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Thursday, July 27, 2023

Hunter Biden’s Pleas Not Guilty After Plea Deal Evaporated

NBC: Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal charges Wednesday, a surprise development after a disagreement arose with prosecutors over a gun charge. The president’s son had been expected to plead guilty to two tax charges under a deal with the government, but the judge delayed ruling on the agreement until she receives additional information. The parties will reconvene at a future date, which could be within the next four to six weeks (NBC). Reuters: Hunter Biden was accused of failing to pay taxes on more than $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018 despite owing more than $100,000, prosecutors allege. He is charged in a separate case with unlawfully owning a firearm while addicted to and using a controlled substance, a felony (Reuters). Charlie Kirk: Hunter Biden pleads NOT GUILTY to gun and tax charges. After the plea deal originally fell apart, the new arrangement would have left open possibility of future indictments for money laundering and FARA violations (Twitter). Benny Johnson: Judge DENIES Hunter Biden plea deal, pleads ‘not guilty’ (Twitter).

Karine Jean-Pierre Says Hunter Bidens Legal Issues are a “personal matter to him”

Washington Examiner: On Wednesday morning, Hunter Biden appeared in a Delaware court hearing, in which he was expected to plead guilty to two federal tax charges. However, the plea deal fell apart after failing to reach an agreement with the prosecutors over a separate gun charge facing him (Twitter). Katie Pavlich: White House says the Hunter Biden plea deal falling apart was a “personal matter to him,” again trying to distance from Hunter’s business partner Joe Biden (Twitter). RNC Research: KARINE JEAN-PIERRE on Hunter Biden: “Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this was a personal matter for him” (Twitter).

Hunter Biden Informant, Devon Archer, in Hiding Amid Threats to Him and His Family, Awaits His Testimony

Daily Mail: Hunter Biden’s former best friend and business partner who is set to give Congress bombshell evidence against the Biden family is now ‘in hiding’ after receiving ‘threats.’ Devon Archer, 49, has been forced to flee both his Long Island and Brooklyn homes, he told friends – but still plans to testify to the House Oversight Committee on Monday. Archer partnered with Hunter on multiple shady overseas deals, and was subpoenaed by the committee in June to testify (Daily Mail). Fox News: The House Oversight Committee invited Archer to testify as he was sentenced last year to one year in prison for his role in a $60 million bond fraud involving various clients. At least three previously planned depositions were canceled by Archer for personal reasons (Fox News).

Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates for 11th Time Since March 2022 to a 22-Year High

Wall Street Journal: The Federal Reserve resumed lifting interest rates Wednesday with a quarter-percentage-point increase that will bring them to a 22-year high. The unanimous decision to raise the benchmark federal-funds rate to a range between 5.25% and 5.5% ended a brief pause in rate increases last month as officials debate whether they have done enough to combat inflation. It marks the 11th increase since March 2022, when they lifted rates from near zero (Wall Street Journal). CNBC: The Fed has not been this aggressive with rate hikes since the early 1980s, when it also was battling extraordinarily high inflation and a sputtering economy (CNBC).

Alejandro Mayorkas Testifies Before Judiciary Committee About the Border Crisis

Townhall: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas once again testified to the House of Representatives on Wednesday and it once again was filled with moments that leave you shaking your head. At the outset, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, said Republicans were wrong on all fronts when it comes to their criticisms against Mayorkas for his handling of the border crisis. Not only have historically high illegal border crossings under the Biden administration prove the border has been opened, but Border Patrol agents themselves have characterized the border as open (Townhall). Julio Rosas: Jerry Nadler: My Republican colleagues claim the border is open, is the border open? Sec. Mayorkas: No, it is not. Nadler: Thank you Mr. Secretary, the border is not open (Twitter). Townhall: “WHO’S LYING?!” Secretary Mayorkas gets confronted with FBI Director Wray’s testimony about “very serious criminal threats” at the border (Twitter). Citizen Free Press: Harriet Hageman knows exactly who Mayorkas is: “You are the walking, talking, epitome of the very tyrant that our Founding Fathers recognized would gravitate toward government service. It’s because of people like you that they drafted the First Amendment” (Twitter).

China, Russia Send Delegations to North Korea for Armistice Celebration

Independent: Official delegations from Russia and China are set to attend North Korea’s 70th anniversary celebrations of armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War, in a display of diplomatic bonhomie with the Kim Jong-un regime. Russia’s delegation, led by defense minister Sergei Shoigu, arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday evening and was greeted by senior North Korean officials that included defense minister Kang Sun Nam, reported the North’s state media on Wednesday. A statement released by Russia’s defense ministry said Mr. Shoigu held a meeting with Mr. Kang for talks he said would “help strengthen cooperation between our defense departments” (Independent). Associated Press: North Korea has been preparing huge celebrations of the anniversary that are likely to be capped off by a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where Kim Jong Un could showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighboring rivals and the US (Associated Press). Bloomberg: Given that both North Korea and Russia are subject to UN sanctions, both seek to conceal exactly how much trade is going on. But there are numerous signs that activity is picking up. There are also indications of increased activity with China after the two countries reopened their main rail link last year that had been closed since Covid (Bloomberg).

Mexico Seizes Fake US Border Patrol Vehicle Used to Smuggle People Over the Border

Daily Mail: Mexico authorities seized a fake U.S. Border Patrol pickup truck that was being used by smugglers in an attempt to sneak 17 Mexican nationals across the border. The white Ford F150 was stopped by local police in Ladrillera, a remote area in the Mexican border city of Tijuana on Saturday. Investigators found that the pickup truck was used by smugglers to pressure migrants into believing that traveling aboard the vehicle ensured easy entry into the United States. They were promised that they would not have to presenting legal documents and that they would not be subjected to revisions (Daily Mail). Fox News reporter Bill Melugin: Looks like a legit Border Patrol vehicle, right? It’s a fake. Border Patrol in Tucson, AZ arrested a human smuggler who basically cloned a Border Patrol SUV, had a fake uniform, and had 10 illegal immigrants in the car. All in custody (Twitter).

Bowe Bergdahl Desertion Conviction Thrown Out

The former US Army Soldier fled his post in Afghanistan and was subsequently captured by the Taliban. Fox News: A former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after leaving his post while deployed in Afghanistan and was subsequently captured and tortured by the Taliban had his court-martial conviction vacated Tuesday. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington D.C. said that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial of Bowe Bergdahl, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest. In 2009, he walked away from his post in Afghanistan and was captured by the Taliban and held for five years. Some of his fellow soldiers were injured trying to find him (Fox News). ABC: U.S. officials reached a deal in 2014 for his release, exchanging five members of the Taliban for him. Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. His court-martial was held in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 2015 to 2017. During that court-martial, Bergdahl’s lawyers filed a motion for dismissal, saying statements by Sen. John McCain and Trump were influencing the trial (ABC).

Actor Kevin Spacey Cleared of All Sexual Assault Charges in UK Court

Daily Wire: Kevin Spacey was acquitted on all nine charges in his sexual assault trial in the United Kingdom. In a courtroom on Wednesday, the 64-year-old actor reportedly wept after Justice Mark Wall told the Hollywood star that he was cleared of all charges and concluded that the “defendant may be discharged” (Daily Wire). Citizen Free Press: “I am humbled by the outcome today.” Kevin Spacey speaks after being found not guilty on sex charges in the UK (Twitter).

10.

Crane in NYC Catches Fire, Collapses Injuring at Least 6 People

Fox News: New York City authorities are warning the public to avoid an area of Manhattan Wednesday after a construction crane caught on fire and partially collapsed, sending 16 tons of concrete and debris tumbling down into the streets. The incident has left at least six people injured, two of which were firefighters responding to the scene, officials say. “Thank God that the injuries… were minor,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “As you can see from the debris on the street, this could have been much worse” (Fox News). Graham Allen: Praying that everyone is OKAY after this crane collapsed in NYC (Twitter)!