Monday morning news: December 2, 2024

President Biden pardons his son » President Biden has pardoned his son Hunter, despite previously promising he would not.

The pardon will spare the president’s son a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions.

Until now, President Biden insisted he wouldn’t pardon his son or commute his sentence, including in this interview with ABC’s David Muir this past summer.

MUIR: Will you accept the jury’s outcome? Their verdict, no matter what it is?

BIDEN: Yes.

MUIR: And have you ruled out a pardon for your son? Biden: Yes.

As recently as November 8th, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre continued to publicly rule out a pardon or clemency for Hunter Biden.

But in a written statement Sunday, the president said his son had been selectively and unfairly prosecuted, adding -quote-: "People are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently."

Hunter Biden was set to receive his sentence this month.

Israel strikes parts of Lebanon amid fragile ceasefire » Israeli jets struck a southern Lebanese village Sunday… just days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. There were no reports of casualties.

Lebanon’s acting prime minister has already accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. But Israel says any strikes by its military have been to thwart possible attacks from Hezbollah.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told NBC’s Meet the Press…

SULLIVAN: Both parties, including Israel, have the right, consistent with international law, to take action in self defense if they’re facing imminent threats. We have seen some of that. Our goal is to get through these first few days -critical days- of a ceasefire, when it’s most fragile.

Sullivan added the goal is for the ceasefire to become permanent. For now, the fragile truce remains intact and Hezbollah has not taken clear military action.

Israel has warned displaced Lebanese residents not to return to southern villages yet, and it’s still enforcing nightly curfews in those areas.

Hamas releases video of American-Israeli hostage » Meantime, as negotiators try to work out a separate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Hamas has released a propaganda video of a dual American-Israeli citizen… held hostage.

AUDIO: [Edan Alexander]

In the video, Edan Alexander pleads with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President-elect Trump not to forget him and to do whatever they can to free the remaining hostages in Gaza.

Alexander was taken hostage in Hamas’s attack on Israel October 7th of last year.

The White House called the video a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own… and says it’s been in touch with Alexander’s family.

Alexander’s mother says she was shaken by the video, but also says Netanyahu assured her conditions are ripe for a hostage deal.

UN stops aid shipments in Gaza because of looting » The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has stopped aid deliveries through Gaza’s main cargo crossing. It says armed gangs are looting convoys, and it’s blaming the chaos largely on Israeli policies.

This comes as overcrowded camps make Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worse. Last week, European Commissioner Elisa Ferreira echoed a UN warning before the European Parliament…

FERREIRA: Famine is imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip, which have practically received no humanitarian assistance for over a month.

Israeli forces have largely isolated northern Gaza to carry out a military offensive against Hamas since October.

Israel claims Hamas is behind the recent looting… and says it’s working with the international community to get more aid in through Kerem Shalom, the main cargo crossing.

It also says UNRWA, which Israel accuses of being infiltrated by Hamas, coordinated less than 10 percent of aid flowing into Gaza last month. UNRWA says it’s seeing no systemic diversion of aid and denies that Hamas is penetrating its ranks.

Syria counterattacks against insurgents » Syria’s military is scrambling to regain control of the country… after insurgents launched a surprise offensive, taking control of the city of Aleppo last week.

Troops from President Basher Al-Assad’s government launched airstrikes in and around Aleppo Sunday, killing 25 people.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner on Fox News Sunday…

WARNER: Assad's a bad guy. This guy has murdered literally millions of his own people… But this is what happens when Russia props up and Iran props up authoritarian figures like this.

Russia has conducted airstrikes in support of Assad. Iran and other allies have promised support without detailing plans.

Syria’s civil war is entering its 14th year.

Reaction to Patel as Trump FBI pick » President-elect Trump’s nomination of outspoken loyalist and former national security aide Kash Patel to lead the FBI… is causing a firestorm in Washington.

Democrats are concerned by Patel’s stated plans to rid the government of conspirators against Trump… and to shut down the FBI’s Washington D.C. headquarters.

Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy on NBC’s Meet the Press…

MURPHY: Kash Patel’s only qualification is because he agrees with Donald Trump that the Department of Justice should serve to punish, lock up, and intimidate Donald Trump’s political opponents.

But on the same broadcast, Republican Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty pushed back.

HAGERTY: There are serious problems at the FBI. The American public knows it. They expect to see sweeping change. Kash Patel’s just the type of person to do it.

Patel would have to be confirmed by the Senate. Trump would also have to fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who still has three years left on his 10-year term.

I'm Mark Mellinger.

Straight ahead: The fate of a suspected associate of a crime family. Plus, thoughts on the president-elect’s rounded out economic team.

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