Monday morning news: July 24, 2023

Republicans on FBI Hunter Biden query » On Capitol Hill, Republicans say evidence of Biden family corruption keeps piling up and may call for more serious action.

Congressman Jim Jordan on Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures.

JORDAN: Speaker McCarthy said if we have to go to an impeachment inquiry, we will, in fact, do that. Based on what Senator Grassley released this week with the 1023 form, what we heard from whistleblowers this past week, and the conflicting statements from the Justice Department, it sure looks like we’re moving in that direction at a pretty quick pace.

Last week, Senator Chuck Grassley released an FBI tip form alleging that the Ukrainian gas company Burisma paid Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden, to influence U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

Democrats say previous investigations debunked those claims. But Republicans question whether the Justice Department did its due diligence. Recent whistleblower testimony stated the DOJ took steps to protect Hunter Biden during an IRS probe.

Congresswoman Kat Cammack:

CAMMACK: So why was he cut such a sweetheart deal on both the gun charge as well as the tax charges? I mean, that right there proves that if your last name is Biden, you are subject to an entirely separate set of rules and laws.

Hunter Biden is scheduled to appear in court this week to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges as part of a deal with federal prosecutors.

DOJ suit threat over Texas floating barrier » The Justice Department is threatening to sue the Texas after state officials placed a floating barrier in the Rio Grande … to discourage migrants from crossing the river.

The Biden administration says the barrier raises humanitarian concerns. Texas GOP Congressman Tony Gonzalez said Sunday:

GONZALEZ: The border crisis has been anything but humane. I think you’re seeing the the governor do everything he possibly can to secure the border, but you have this states vs central government non-stop going back and forth.

The Biden administration says the floating barrier near the border town of Eagle Pass presents an “unlawful” hazard.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott stated on Twitter that—in his words, “Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border.”

Presidential politics » And speaking of border security, former President Donald Trump over the weekend revisited what was a major theme of his 2016 campaign.

TRUMP: We’re going to close the border. We’re going to get rid of all the criminals that have been allowed to come into our country that are causing us tremendous problems, and terrorists that are going to cause problems for many years to come.

Meantime, Republican presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy told Fox News that he’s gone from a largely unknown candidate to a primetime contender.

RAMASWAMY: I began in March at 0.0% in the polls. Look at the national polling averages now — I’m consistently polling at third nationally.

The longtime businessman and political newcomer is still running a somewhat distant third at 6%.

Trump still tops all rivals at roughly 50%.

Florida InBev probe » Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is still in second place in GOP polls with 20% support.

Over the weekend, he said his state may soon launch an investigation of Bud Light’s parent Company Anheuser Busch InBev.

He said Florida pensioners took a big hit when the company’s stock tanked.

DESANTIS: We had over $50 million dollars worth of InBev stock. When you start pursuing a political agenda at the expense of your shareholders, it impacts hardworking people who were police, firefighters, and teachers.

DeSantis says InBev may have “breached legal duties to shareholders when it partnered with a transgender social media star. Amid the backlash, the company lost billions of dollars in market value.

Ukraine » Russian forces again struck the city of Odesa on Sunday … along Ukraine’s Black Sea coast.

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking Ukrainian]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow’s military used 19 missiles of different types to make them harder to shoot down.

He said at least one person was killed and 20 others were wounded, including four children.

The airstrike damaged nearly 50 buildings, including 25 landmarks across the city. The historic Transfiguration Cathedral was among them.

After the fires were put out at the Orthodox cathedral, volunteers donned hard hats, shovels and brooms… and began working to salvage artifacts amid the rubble and shattered glass.

SOUND: [Cathedral sounds]

One church leader said while busting into tears, “with God’s help, we will restore it.”

Netanyahu / protests » Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recovering from an emergency heart procedure as protests rage in his country over his plan to overhaul the courts.

SOUND: [Israel protest]

Parliament is set to vote today on the plan, which would give legislators veto power over Supreme Court decisions, among other changes.

Netanyahu had a pacemaker implanted over the weekend and was expected to recover.

He recorded a video from his hospital room promising to attend today’s vote in person.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Religious liberty cases around the world on Legal Docket. Plus, finding the shipwreck of the Titanic.

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