Weekly News Bites #025 | Whistleblower allegations independently confirmed
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Weekly News Bites #025 | Whistleblower allegations independently confirmed
All of the top stories 📰 of the week in small bites.
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It’s FRIDAY, June 30! YAY
Some of the stories this week!
IRS whistleblowers testify to alleged interference in Hunter Biden's felony charges, sparking debate on preferential treatment and political motivation.
President Biden signs an executive order expanding contraception access and family planning services for Roe v. Wade's anniversary.
Supreme Court bans affirmative action in admissions, sparking debate on merit-based vs. racially inclusive university admissions.
UPS Teamsters Union threatens imminent strike as negotiations break down over economic proposals and benefits withheld by the company.
Former President Trump leverages FairTax Bill in GOP presidential primary against Governor Ron DeSantis, igniting debate over national sales tax proposal.
Top Russian generals disappear amidst failed mutiny and speculation of military purge, raising concerns over Russia's military strategy and power consolidation by President Putin.
TV personality Ryan Seacrest is set to take over from Pat Sajak as the host of the long-standing game show, Wheel of Fortune, starting from its 42nd season.
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→ Two IRS whistleblowers have testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, alleging interference in potential felony charges against Hunter Biden. These charges, related to tax evasion and false tax returns, were claimed to have been slow-tracked by prosecutors during the tenure of Trump appointee Bill Barr. The whistleblowers, IRS supervisory special agent Gary Shapley, and an unnamed agent stated that the case was hindered by Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys Matthew Graves and Martin Estrada. They argue that these attorneys obstructed U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss, another Trump appointee, in his pursuit of charges against Hunter Biden in Washington D.C. and Southern California. The New York Times independently verified these allegations concerning Estrada's actions. The report on the confirmation was, however, included late into the article and tucked away in the print edition. Hunter Biden has admitted guilt to minor tax offenses but avoided the more serious charges originally suggested by the IRS agents, sparking debate over possible preferential treatment. Critics and defenders argue over whether the investigation was politically motivated or thorough and fair.
→ Federal agents have reportedly found evidence suggesting that Hunter Biden, was involved in a tax evasion scheme, allegedly avoiding taxes on millions of dollars of income since 2014. The allegations came from IRS Supervisor Agent Gary Shapley, a whistleblower who supervised the investigation, during an interview on the John Solomon Reports podcast. Shapley and another unnamed whistleblower claim that political interference from the Justice Department hindered the case, affecting agents' ability to get search warrants, interview witnesses, and file serious felony charges against Hunter Biden. Shapley's team claims to have uncovered evidence that Hunter Biden did not declare over $8 million in income on his federal returns from 2014 to 2019, avoiding approximately $2.2 million in taxes. These allegations are leading to a multi-committee investigation by the House, with a particular focus on the possible interference by the Justice Department. Christopher Clark, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, has not commented on the whistleblower allegations. Hunter Biden's team claims he has repaid between $2 million and $3 million in unpaid taxes and penalties.
→ Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, has threatened an impeachment investigation against Attorney General Merrick Garland. The charge against Garland stems from whistleblower allegations that the Justice Department, under his lead, interfered in the case to protect Hunter. Garland, however, has denied these claims.
→ Hunter Biden was deposed in a civil lawsuit filed by Delaware computer repair shop owner, John Paul Mac Isaac, accusing Biden of defamation. The lawsuit originates from an incident in 2019 when Biden allegedly left three laptops at Mac Isaac's store, one of which reportedly contained compromising material. Mac Isaac claims he turned over the data to the FBI, and the case has since grown complex, intertwining with the IRS investigation into Biden's tax affairs. Recently, the Department of Justice announced that Biden would plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax as part of a plea agreement. An IRS whistleblower has also claimed that investigators confirmed the authenticity of the laptop's data, but their access to information was obstructed. Hunter Biden’s first court appearance for the tax case is scheduled for July 26.
→ President Biden is expected to sign an executive order to increase access to contraception and family planning services, preceding the anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The order will prompt the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to contemplate new actions concerning birth control, including potentially requiring private health insurance to cover all FDA-approved contraceptives. Additionally, it will encourage exploring ways to improve access to affordable over-the-counter birth control. However, it is specified that while contraception is an important part of health care, it is not intended to substitute for abortion care.
→ The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against “race-conscious” admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, effectively banning affirmative action in admissions. The ruling, supported by the court's conservative justices, comes after an appeal by the group Students for Fair Admissions, which accused the institutions of discriminating against white and Asian American applicants. This decision will require substantial changes in admissions policies across many U.S. colleges and universities.
While the ruling could challenge the diversity, equity, and inclusion industry in corporate America, it permits universities to consider an applicant's discussion of how race affected their life if it relates to a unique quality or ability they could contribute to the institution. This decision may lead to further litigation as colleges attempt to adhere to the new guidelines. The ruling has stirred mixed reactions, with some viewing it as progress towards merit-based admissions and others seeing it as a hindrance to racial justice since the implications of the decision could also extend to demands for African-American reparations and eliminate the argument that discrimination is necessary for admissions processes to improve college campuses.
→ The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the notion that state legislatures have unmitigated authority to set rules for federal elections, thwarting a legal argument put forward by North Carolina Republicans. The court, in a 6-3 decision, repudiated the so-called independent state legislature doctrine. Proponents of the doctrine, primarily Republicans, cited the Elections and Presidential Electors clauses in the U.S. Constitution, which assign the responsibility of governing federal elections to state legislatures. Democrats have criticized the doctrine as a threat to voting rights, enabling extreme partisan gerrymandering and creating administrative chaos in elections. The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, stated that while state courts have the power to apply state constitutional restraints when legislatures act under the Elections Clause, they also must not overstep their bounds and infringe upon the role of state legislatures. Meanwhile, the North Carolina Supreme Court, with a newly seated Republican majority, contradicted the federal court's ruling, stating that the General Assembly, not the courts, has sole authority over redistricting.
→ House Subcommittee requests CDC director's phone records amid concerns of political interference. The House Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee has called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to release the phone records of its Director, Rochelle Walensky, and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. The demand comes amid concerns about possible political interference, raised by Committee Chairman Brad Wenstrup. Recently released messages suggest Walensky has a close relationship with Weingarten and National Education Association President Becky Pringle, raising questions about their influence over the CDC and other federal agencies. Walensky, who is expected to step down from her position at the CDC this week, and her successor, former North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, are under increased scrutiny.
→ The US Coast Guard has confirmed the recovery of "presumed human remains" from the wreckage of the Titan submersible that imploded during a deep-sea expedition to the Titanic site on June 18, tragically claiming the lives of all five passengers on board. The recovered material will undergo formal analysis by US medical professionals. The victims included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman Dawood. The vessel's implosion sparked worldwide interest, with criticisms targeted at Rush for seemingly disregarding safety concerns. The recovered debris, retrieved by Pelagic Research Services from around 12,500 feet underwater, will assist an ongoing probe by the Coast Guard's Marine Board of Investigation into the cause of the tragic incident. It's still uncertain what triggered the fatal implosion.
→ Club Q killer sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of murder. Club Q killer pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, 46 counts of attempted murder, and two counts of bias-motivated crimes. The shooter, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said, “I intentionally and after deliberation caused the death of each victim,” Aldrich was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus over 2,200 years for the attempted murder counts. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of five people, including Raymond Green Vance, whose father-in-law, Richard Fierro, stopped Aldrich during the shooting.
→ The UPS Teamsters, the union representing over 340,000 UPS employees, have threatened to go on strike, warning that it may be imminent after they walked away from negotiations with UPS. The union has asked for a more robust economic proposal from the company, as they believe current compensation is insufficient, particularly in light of rising inflation and corporate profits. They claim the company is withholding further benefits and seeking concessions instead. Recent agreements by UPS to improve working conditions, including equipping all newly purchased delivery vehicles with air conditioning by 2024, have done little to pacify the union's demands for better economic terms. A strike by this union could create significant disruptions in the supply chain, both in the U.S. and globally, due to the sheer number of employees involved. UPS, on the other hand, states that they are still ready to negotiate and are working to reach an agreement before the current contract's expiration on August 1st.
→ Former President Trump is using a national sales tax proposal, known as the FairTax bill, as an attack point against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary. The proposed legislation, which would implement a 23% national sales tax to replace the federal income tax system, is being defended by Trump supporters who co-sponsor the bill, maintaining its intent to enforce a non-regressive tax structure. Despite Trump's attack ads pointing out DeSantis's support for the FairTax during his time in Congress, DeSantis's campaign states the criticisms are misleading by not including context about the proposed abolition of income taxes. Meanwhile, the future of the FairTax bill is uncertain in Congress, even though it was part of Speaker Kevin McCarthy's negotiations when contending for the position. The proposal's political impact has caused some lawmakers to retract their support, while others, including Trump supporters, continue to endorse it.
→ Top NIH adviser admits to using personal email to evade FOIA, sparking potential violation investigation. David M. Morens, a top adviser to Anthony Fauci at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), admitted in an email exchange in September 2021 that he used a personal Gmail account to evade Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requirements. Morens, who served as a senior scientific advisor at NIH, expressed his intention to delete emails to avoid media scrutiny, a move that could potentially violate agency regulations and civil and criminal record retention laws, according to Scott Amey, general counsel at the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight. In addition, the email exchanges obtained by congressional investigators probing the origin of Covid-19 revealed Morens and other scientists' criticism of media coverage concerning Covid's origins and their advocacy for its natural emergence theory. The investigators have asked Morens to produce additional records and to participate in an interview.
In a separate email, Morens slammed scientists such as Richard Ebright of Rutgers University and lamented the media’s platforming of such figures.
“They need to be called out. Because I am in government I can only fo [sic] this off the record, but I have done do [sic] again and again,” he wrote. “Some of them are knowingly promoting false equivalences [sic]. If they interviewed a Holocaust survivor, they would say they have to give equal time and space to a Nazi murderer. They have no shame.”
You can read the full set of documents here.
→ The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is considering a policy that would require approximately 100 restaurants, primarily pizzerias, to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 75%. The regulations, mainly targeting establishments using brick and wood-fired ovens installed before 2016, were formulated to align with a 2015 law to improve air quality. However, this has been delayed due to challenges brought on by the COVID pandemic and complexities in drafting rules that do not unduly burden restaurants. If approved, these eateries might need to install costly air filter systems to control emissions. Pizzeria owners can apply for waivers or variances but must provide a compelling hardship justification. The policy is still open for public feedback and could take effect this summer. It's expected to impact several iconic pizzerias, including Lombardi’s, Fornino’s, and Grimaldi’s.
→ Conservative New Democracy Party landslide victory indicates a political shift in Greece. In the second Greek election in five weeks, the conservative New Democracy party, led by incumbent Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, emerged victorious with a landslide 40.6% of the vote and secured a majority in Parliament, signaling Greeks desire strong economic stability amid ongoing global economic crises.
→ Unrest and protests have emerged in the Paris region after a 17-year-old, identified as Nahel, was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop. A video circulating on social media seems to contradict initial police accounts suggesting the teen had tried to ram his car into the officers. The footage instead appears to show an officer shooting Nahel at point-blank range as he tried to drive off. The officer involved has since been detained on homicide charges. The incident sparked violent protests in Nanterre and several other towns, leading to 31 arrests. This marks the second police shooting death during a traffic stop in France this year, with a record 13 such incidents occurring last year. Authorities have launched two separate investigations—one into the possibility of a killing by a public official and the other into Nahel's failure to stop and alleged attempt to assault a police officer. Reactions have been widespread, with many calling for justice and condemning the incident, including France's President Emmanuel Macron, who described Nahel's death as "inexcusable" and "inexplicable.”
→ Top Russian generals vanish from the public eye amidst reports of failed mutiny and potential military purge. In the wake of a recent failed mercenary mutiny, Russia's top military figures have seemingly disappeared from public view. This abrupt development comes amidst President Vladimir Putin's ongoing efforts to consolidate his power. The armed forces chief of staff, General Valery Gerasimov, and his deputy, General Sergei Surovikin, known for his strategic prowess in the Syrian conflict, are among those who have vanished. Reports of their absence emerge in parallel with the conjecture about a potential large-scale purge within the military ranks, aiming to weed out those who demonstrated indecisiveness during the mercenary mutiny. These developments could potentially impact Russia's military strategy in Ukraine and lead to upheaval within the military. The Kremlin has yet to officially comment on the situation. Meanwhile, speculation continues to circulate about whether these notable absences could solidify the positions of Putin's staunch allies in the military.
→ TV personality Ryan Seacrest is set to take over from Pat Sajak as the host of the long-standing game show, Wheel of Fortune, starting from its 42nd season. This announcement follows Sajak's recent decision to retire after the conclusion of the 41st season. Along with his hosting duties, Seacrest will serve as a consulting producer for the show. Sajak, who has been hosting Wheel of Fortune since 1981 and is a three-time Emmy winner, expressed his gratitude towards viewers in his retirement statement. Co-host Vanna White is in the process of renegotiating her contract to continue on the show. Seacrest, well-known for his roles in American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, described his upcoming tenure on Wheel of Fortune as a "full circle moment,” referencing his early career hosting a game show for Merv Griffin.