Tuesday morning news: September 26, 2023

Menendez speaks out » Embattled New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is firing back against federal corruption charges and those calling on him to step down.

MENEDEZ: The court of public opinion is no substitute for our revered justice system.

Menendez accused many critics of rushing to judgment for political reasons and said when he has his day in court, he’ll be cleared of all charges.

Authorities found nearly a half-million dollars in cash in his home, but the senator said that money did not come from bribes as prosecutors allege.

MENENDEZ: For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba.

The indictment says authorities recovered envelopes full of cash from his house, and that on those envelopes were the fingerprints of another defendant in the case.

Prosecutors accuse Menendez of acceping cash and gold in exchange for political favors.

Migrant numbers » New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is deploying another 150 National Guard troops to help with a migrant crisis in New York City on top of 2,000 already deployed.

HOCHUL: And what his allow us today — 250 National Guard members will focus solely on case management.

Among other things, they’ll process work permits for asylum seekers, including those who illegally crossed the border into the United States.

The White House gave New York the green light to grant work permits to nearly a half-million Venezuelan migrants.

Critics say with border traffic surging back to record levels, the move will provide further incentive for millions more to illegally cross the border.

Ukraine war crimes » Russian soldiers have continued to commit brutal war crimes against civilians in Ukraine. That’s according to investigators working for the UN, citing yet more evidence.

Erik Mose heads up the independent inquiry.

MOSE: Willful killings, killing of civilians, rape, deportation of children, sexual offenses.

Mose said his team has found evidence of crimes committed on both sides, but that Russian forces have apparently committed vastly more vastly more — and a wider array — of abuses.

In a new report to the Human Rights Council, the commission reported sexual violence against women as old as 83.

Tim Scott leans into life issue » As Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump seemingly shifts to the left on the topic of abortion, GOP rival, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is leaning into the party’s pro-life platform.

SCOTT: Some Republicans want to retreat on life. I know life is a gift from God, and this is a fight we must win.

That’s part of a new campaign ad.

Former President Donald Trump made a surprising remark last week, calling Florida’s Heartbeat bill protecting unborn children after about six weeks—quote—“a terrible thing.”

Newsom / DeSantis to debate in November » Sen. Scott will be on stage at the Reagan Library in California tomorrow for the second presidential debate of the year alongside roughly a half-dozen other Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

And the governor has unexpectedly just penciled in one more debate on his calendar. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: DeSantis will face Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a one-on-one debate on November 30th on Fox News.

Newsom is not running for president. But his interest in mounting a White House bid is an open secret. Analysts say Newsom is preparing to step in should President Biden withdraw for any reason. And the governor may already be laying the groundwork for 20-28.

The debate is a chance for him to raise his national profile.

For DeSantis, it’s a chance to show a national audience how he’ll fare head-to-head against a high-profile Democrat.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

WGA writers strike » In Hollywood, screenwriters are putting down their picket signs.

The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with the heads of major studios and streaming services to end a monthslong strike.

More than 11-thousand writers walked off the job in May demanding, among other things, better pay, and guarantees that studios won’t t

Zayd Dorhn is a WGA member and Chicago strike captain.

DORHN: I think you'll see this wrap up in about a week to ten days. We'll probably be able to get back to work within about ten days.

Picketing ended Sunday, five days before the strike would have become the longest in the history of the writers’ guild.

Writers will have to sign off on the agreement before returning to work. A strike by Hollywood actors is still ongoing with no sign of a deal.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: a conversation about U.S. border policy. Plus, cars that pay too much attention to their drivers.

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