Monday morning news: August 7, 2023

Biden  » House Republicans continue to ratchet up pressure on the Biden family and the Department of Justice. Florida Congressman Byron Donalds:

DONALDS: The DOJ is corrupt in my view. They are obstructing justice, especially when you look at how they were handling all these dealings with Hunter Biden.

Republicans say the more evidence they unfold, the more it undercuts President Biden’s claims that he had no connection with Hunter Biden’s business dealings … and barely any knowledge of them.

And many GOP lawmakers charge that the Justice Department is protecting the president.

Some Democrats concede that testimony last week from a former Hunter Biden business associate, wasn’t a good look for the Bidens. But Congressman Jake Auchind says where the president’s concerned, he’s seen no smoking gun.

AUCHIND: Again, what we saw from the Archer testimony was a very unflattering portraint of Hunter Biden and his business dealings, but no material involvement from Joe Biden himself.

Democrats accuse House Republicans of trying to manufacture a scandal to distract from former President Trump’s legal woes.

TRUMP  » Meantime, the Justice Department is asking the judge overseeing the latest indictment against Donald Trump … to issue a protective order.

That came after Trump stated on social media—quote—“If you go after me, I’m coming after you.”

But Trump attorney John Lauro argued that context matters … and he added:

LAURO: President Trump was responding in a political way to some of his political opponents.

The protective order looks to limit Trump from publicly discussing case evidence.

Former President Trump on Sunday said his team plans to ask the judge in the case to recuse herself on what he called “very powerful grounds,” without getting into details.

Trump officials  » Also on Sunday, at least two former top Trump administration officials say, if asked, they’re willing to testify against Donald Trump about alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Former Attorney General William Barr told CBS’ Face the Nation … that the prosecution of the former president is a “legitimate case.” And he recalled multiple conversation with Trump after the election.

BARR: I told him in no uncertain terms that there was no evidence of fraud that would have changed the outcome.

And former Vice President Mike Pence said on Sunday that if called upon to testify, he would simply tell the truth.

PENCE: President Trump was wrong. He was wrong then and he’s wrong now. I had no right to overturn the election.

John Lauro refuted the former vice president’s remarks … saying Trump never asked Mike Pence to choose between Trump and the Constitution as Pence asserts.

Russia-China naval exercises  » The U-S navy chased Russian and Chinese navy vessels away from American waters last week… after the foreign ships approached Alaska.

The Chinese and Russian ships reportedly did not enter U-S territorial waters.

U-S Senator Dan Sullivan said that 11 foreign ships made up the joint fleet. He called the fleet evidence that the world had entered a new era of authoritarian aggression.

Meanwhile the U-S is prosecuting two of its sailors for allegedly supplying information to China. Congressman Mike Gallagher:

GALLAGHER - The CCP has continued its relentless espionage campaign against America. We are slowly waking up to it. But we’re just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of this activity on American soil.

The sailors allegedly provided information to China about critical technical materials… and wartime exercises.

Russian strikes in Ukraine  » Russian missile and drone have killed six people across Ukraine.

ZELENSKYY - Ukrainian

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed missile defense systems provided by Ukraine’s allies proved effective shooting down the Russian missiles.

Some missiles still struck their targets.

Moscow says the strikes are retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on one of its oil tankers. Ukraine says the tanker was trying to supply Russian troops.

Ukraine and Russia have declared each others’ ports on the Black Sea to be wartime targets.

Niger deadline  » Leaders of military coup in Niger on Sunday ignored an ultimatum by a bloc of West African nations demanding the reinstatement of Niger’s president. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher.

JS: Leaders of the military junta in Niger ignored a Sunday deadline … to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum … or face the consequences.

Leaders from an alliance of 11 West African countries threatened possible military action if the junta did not comply. But as of last night, there was no sign of any mobilization against Niger’s junta.

Supporters of the coup gathered for a rally in Niger’s capital yesterday as the deadline passed.

Many others remain fearful of what military rule will mean for their country.

The Nigerien military toppled ousted the president late last month… and Mohamed Bazoum says he is now being held hostage.

The US government has called for his release and reinstatement.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

And I'm KENT COVINGTON.

Straight ahead: freedom of speech in front of abortion clinics on Legal Docket.

Plus, the Monday Moneybeat.

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