
Hunter Biden lawyer asks to withdraw from case after special counsel named to investigate president’s son
Hunter Biden’s defence attorney asked to withdraw from the federal case against his client – regarding tax offenses and a gun possession charge – because he said he could be called as a witness in the future. Christopher Clark, Mr Biden’s lawyer, filed a motion with the Delaware judge on Tuesday. “Based on recent developments, it appears that the negotiation and drafting of the plea agreement and diversion agreement will be contested, and Mr Clark is a percipient witness to those issues,” the filing states. “Under the ‘witness-advocate’ rule, it is inadvisable for Mr Clark to continue as counsel in this case,” it continued. “Withdrawal will not cause a substantial hardship to Mr Biden because counsel from the other firms that have entered an appearance will continue to represent Mr Biden in this matter,” the filing said. The move comes after an 11 August filing by prosecutors, led by David Weiss, who was granted special counsel status, asking the court to cancel its request that both sides reach a renewed agreement on the plea deal “since there is no longer a plea agreement or diversion agreement for the Court to consider.” Both parties are at an “impasse” regarding the tax charges and the parties haven’t reached a “diversion agreement” regarding the gun possession charge, Mr Weiss wrote. Days later, on Sunday, Mr Biden’s attorneys argued in a filing that the Justice Department decided to “renege” on its side of the deal on tax charges; the gun charge agreement also contains an immunity clause against federal prosecutions for some other potential crimes. His lawyers also wrote that the parties have a “valid and binding bilateral Diversion Agreement.” In response on Tuesday, prosecutors wrote in a filing that it “did not ‘renege’ on the ‘previously agreed-upon Plea Agreement.’” The special counsel wrote that because the Chief United States Probation Officer “did not approve the now-withdrawn diversion agreement, it never went into effect and, therefore, none of its terms are binding on either party.” Read More Prosecutors in the Hunter Biden case deny defense push to keep gun charge agreement in place Hunter Biden’s lawyer fight to keep plea deal Hunter Biden’s attorney doesn’t expect new charges from special counsel probe
1970-01-01 08:00

Circle Criticizes Crypto Firms That ‘Counterfeit US Dollars’
Circle’s Dante Disparte said bank failures in the US earlier this year helped to send investors into “unsafe,
1970-01-01 08:00

Trump's 2024 rivals offer mixed reactions to Georgia indictment
Donald Trump's biggest detractors in the 2024 Republican presidential race offered mixed reactions Tuesday to the former president's indictment by a Georgia grand jury.
1970-01-01 08:00

Lauren Boebert mocked for promoting visit to Rico fire department amid Trump Rico charges
Social media users mocked Rep Lauren Boebert (R-CO) for her appearance at a Rico fire department amid former president Donald Trump being charged in Georgia under a law that shares the same likeness. The right-wing firebrand congresswoman posted images of her visit to the Rico Fire Protection District in her district. “Honored to spend time with firefighters from the Rico Fire Protection District – true heroes dedicated to keeping our community safe,” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Their bravery and commitment are truly remarkable. Grateful for their sacrifice and service!” But the post came as a grand jury indicted the former president and his associates under Georgia’s Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, among other charges. The RICO statute charges people who take part in actions in service of a criminal enterprise. Mr Trump faces 13 RICO charges, which he shares with 18 other criminal defendants. Social media users were quick to mock the moment. “@realDonaldTrump could use the RICO Fire & Rescue right now. Maybe Lauren could send them in?” Jason Rollinson tweeted. “Rico. That’s funny, your owner is about to be charged with crimes of the same name,” another person tweeted. “On the day Trump is indicted on RICO charges, Bobo tweeted this gem,” another person tweeted. “She's painfully stupid.” The former president also faces 12 other charges including conspiracy to impersonate a public officer; two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery; two counts of conspiracy to make false statements under oath; two counts of conspiracy to file false documents; two counts of solicitation of a public officer; filing false documents; conspiracy to solicit false documents; and making false statements. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said each of the defendants’ RICO charges accused them of “participation in a criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia, and elsewhere, to accomplish the illegal goal of allowing Donald J. Trump to seize the presidential term of office, beginning on January 20, 2021.” Read More Trump and 18 allies indicted on RICO charges in Georgia election case: ‘The law is completely nonpartisan’ Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump In 'Bidenomics,' Congress delivered a once-in-generation investment — with political promise, peril Lauren Boebert slammed for attacking Biden over Maui wildfires Trump's attack on 'filth and decay' in nation's capital just the latest in his personal feud with DC
1970-01-01 08:00

Conservatives already sounding alarms over prospect of a short-term spending bill
A handful of conservatives in the House are already raising concerns about the length of a short-term budget fix after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday night in a conference-wide call that Republicans would need to pass a measure extending current spending levels in order to have more time to negotiate spending bills and avert a government shutdown.
1970-01-01 08:00

What is RICO, the law at the heart of Trump's Georgia criminal case?
Former President Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants have been accused of breaking a variety of criminal laws in the Georgia 2020 election subversion case, but one crime ties all their alleged misconduct together: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
1970-01-01 08:00

Blockstream Is Betting on Bitcoin Comeback as It Hoards Crypto Mining Rigs
Bitcoin developer Blockstream Corp. is betting that the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency is poised for a massive rebound,
1970-01-01 08:00

Former high-level FBI official pleads guilty in connection to scheme working for sanctioned Russian oligarch
The former head of counterintelligence for the FBI's New York field office pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy in connection to a scheme working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch in 2021.
1970-01-01 08:00

Four indictments, 91 criminal charges, up to 700 years in jail: Trump’s legal woes in numbers
Donald Trump was indicted for the fourth time in less than five months and now faces 91 criminal counts which carry a possible total of more than seven centuries behind bars. While it’s unlikely that the former president will be sentenced to hundreds of years in prison, the risk of some prison time is very real. Mr Trump was hit with his latest indictment on Monday night, where a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, charged him alongside 18 others for scheming to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. It came just weeks after the twice-impeached president was charged by the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith on the federal level in cases related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection. In June, Mr Trump was federally charged with 32 counts for mishandling of classified documents in Florida, with six more counts handed down in early August in a superseding indictment. Mr Trump’s first indictment was at the state level in late March, when he was charged with 34 counts by the Manhattan District Attorney for making hush money payments to adult actor Stormy Daniels and others ahead of the 2016 election. Here’s a rundown of all the charges Mr Trump faces - and the possible jail time they carry on conviction: Prosecuting office Charge Counts Maximum prison time per count Manhattan District Attorney (New York) Hush money payments 34 - Falsifying business records Four years Special Counsel’s Office (Federal) Mishandling of classified information 32 - Willful retention of national secrets 10 years Special Counsel’s Office (Federal) Mishandling of classified information Six - Obstruction of justice 20 years Special Counsel’s Office (Federal) Mishandling of classified information Two - False statements Five years Special Counsel’s Office (Federal) Efforts to overturn 2020 election Two - Obstructing an official proceeding 20 years Special Counsel’s Office (Federal) Efforts to overturn 2020 election One - Conspiracy against the right to vote 10 years Special Counsel’s Office (Federal) Efforts to overturn 2020 election One - Defrauding the United States Five years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia One - Violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) 20 years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia Three - Soliciting violation of oath by a public officer Three years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia One - Conspiring to commit impersonating a public officer Two and a half years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia Two - Conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree Seven and a half years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia Two - Consiring to commit false statements and writing Two and a half years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia One - Conspiring to commit filing false documents Five years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia One - Filing false documents 10 years Fulton County District Attorney (Georgia) Efforts to overturn 2020 election in Georgia Two - False statements and writings Five years TOTAL 91 COUNTS 717.5 YEARS Read More Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump The biggest problem facing Donald Trump? His ‘mafia’ mouth Trump indictment - live: Trump in new voter conspiracy rant as Georgia issues arrest warrant for racketeering
1970-01-01 08:00

The Rarest Fortnite Cosmetics of All Time
Check out the rarest Fortnite cosmetics of all time, including skins, Gliders, Pickaxes, Emotes, and Back Blings.
1970-01-01 08:00

Watch live: Biden delivers ‘Bidenomics’ speech in battleground state Wisconsin
Watch live as Joe Biden delivers a speech highlighting his “Bidenomics” economic policies in the battleground state of Milwaukee on Tuesday, 15 August. The US president’s visit comes a week after Republicans will descend upon the state for the first GOP presidential debate. “Bidenomics,” named by the White House, is the Biden administration’s plan to “grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up” centred around three pillars: making smart public investments, empowering and educating workers to grow the middle class, and promoting competition to lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive. On Tuesday, Mr Biden will also tour clean energy manufacturer Ingeteam, a company which the White House says has plans to hire 100 workers using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money to start producing EV charging stations domestically. Republicans will hold their first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee on 23 August. It is not confirmed whether former president Donald Trump will boycott or hold a competing event. Read More Christie takes second place from DeSantis in New Hampshire: poll What is an arraignment and what is an indictment? In 'Bidenomics,' Congress delivered a once-in-generation investment — with political promise, peril
1970-01-01 08:00

ChatGPT Creator OpenAI Is Testing Content Moderation Systems
OpenAI said its technology is capable of moderating content, a task that could help businesses become more efficient,
1970-01-01 08:00