Wednesday morning news: August 2, 2023

Trump charged » The Justice Department has charged former President Donald Trump in connection with alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States government and witness tampering.

Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters:

GARLAND: So immediately after the January 6 attack on our democracy, the career men and women of the Justice Department engaged in what has become the largest investigation in our history.

Garland noted that last November, he appointed special counsel Jack Smith to lead the investigation.

GARLAND: Mr. Smith and his team of experienced principled career agents and prosecutors have followed the facts wherever they lead.

And with that… he said the public can be assured that Trump’s prosecution is entirely impartial.

But Trump attorney John Lauro fired back …

LAURO: We have the criminalization of public policy and political speech by one political party over another.

The indictment is the third criminal case brought against the former president as he seeks to reclaim the White House. Republican leaders say the charges are evidence of a two-tiered justice system.

Bureau of global health » The federal government is forming a brand new bureau under the umbrella of the State Department.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken said Tuesday:

BLINKEN: The last few years have made evident that a pandemic is not only a health crisis. It’s a security crisis. It’s an economic crisis. It’s a humanitarian crisis.

The secretary heard there announcing the launch of the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. He says its mission is to forge stronger ties with health agencies around the globe … to create better systems to help guard against future health threats.

Coup in Niger » Several European countries are working to evacuate their citizens from the Niger amid an ongoing military coup.

Unarmed French military transport planes landed in the West African nation on Tuesday.

As for Americans now in Niger … State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday …

MILLER: We have reached out to them and told them that of course, it’s difficult to leave the country right now. The security forces who have attempted to seize power have closed the airport and closed the borders.

So Miller said for now, they’ve asked Americans in Niger- “to remain in place and limit their movements around the capital.”

More Russia drone attack claims » Moscow is accusing Ukraine of using drones to attack the same building for the second time this week … saying there were no casualties.

The damaged building contains some government offices.

Ukraine has officially avoided claiming responsibility for the attack… But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made recent claims that the war in Ukraine is moving to Russian territory.

KONASHENKOV - Russian

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov saying that Ukraine also tried to attack two civilian boats on the Black Sea. Kyiv strongly denies that accusation … saying Russia aims at civilian targets. Ukraine does not.

NJ Lt. Gov. » Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey Sheila Oliver has died age of 71.

Governor Phil Murphy’s office confirmed her sudden passing this afternoon, but did not immediately release a cause of death.

SOT: Oliver swearing-in

Oliver made history in 2010 as the first black woman elected to lead the New Jersey state assembly.

She served as lieutenant governor to Murphy since 2018.

She was hospitalized earlier this week with an unspecified ailment.

DeSantis challenges Harris » Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is challenging Vice President Kamala Harris to a debate … about his state’s history curriculum.

DESANTIS: She came to Florida to attack us, and she’s trying to attack me, but she’s really attacking the people who worked hard on this. And so that’s just wrong. I think it’s wrong to let lies be perpetuated.

The curriculum notes that, even in slavery, many people developed work and trade skills, which they were able to later use to provide for themselves and their families.

Vice President Harris claims the curriculum teaches that “enslaved people benefited from slavery” … implying that Florida is defending slavery to school children.

Supporters of the curriculum have called that suggestion absurd and slanderous, adding that it highlights “examples of heroic people who fought oppression.”

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Biden’s new plan for student debt forgiveness.

Plus, Former enemies forge new bonds over photography.

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