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☆ NASA chief and Democratic lawmakers urge investigation into reports of Musk-Putin conversations
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin have shared secret calls since 2022. A former DoD analyst said that a relationship like this could pose national security concerns. Because of his work with the federal government via SpaceX, Musk holds a security clearance that gives him access to some classified information. "The security clearance adjudication process looks at several factors, and undue foreign influence is just one of those factors," Stransky, now a partner at Thompson Hine law firm, said. The existence of an ongoing Musk-Putin relationship would be further complicated by the billionaire tech leader's recent foray into US politics.

Persons: Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, —, Bill Nelson, Musk, Putin, Nelson, Semafor, Adam Smith, aren't, Sen, Jeanne Shaheen, Smith, Shaheen, Dmitry Peskov, Steven Stransky, Thompson, Stansky, Robert English, Xi, Trump, he's, Tesla Organizations: Street Journal, Washington, Service, Democratic, SpaceX, Business, NASA, Department of Defense, House Armed Services Committee, Politico, Defense Department, New, New Hampshire Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Armed Services Committee, DoD, National Reconnaissance Office, astronautics, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, National Security Council, Central, University of Southern, Trump Locations: New Hampshire, University of Southern California, Taiwan

☆ Can you spot the celebrity 'deepfakes' in a new ad warning against election disinfo?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“If something seems off, it probably is,” Dawson warns in the video spot, shared exclusively with NBC News. At the end, the video reveals that some of the Hollywood stars are mere deepfakes, with their voices and images superimposed on other actors. tools could make it easier to confuse and deceive voters with video and audio that looks and sounds plausible, experts say. represent UsThe campaign does not attempt to tackle or fact-check the flood of false information circulating this election cycle, from candidates, commentators, deepfakes or other means. Instead, it focuses on verifiable, concrete details about when, where and how Americans can cast ballots on Election Day, Lynn said.

Persons: Rosario Dawson, ” Dawson, Chris Rock, Laura Dern, Michael Douglas, Amy Schumer, Jonathan Scott, We’re, ”, Miles Taylor, Joe Biden’s, Democratic Sen, Ben Cardin, Michael Douglas –, Taylor, Trump, Joshua Graham Lynn, RepresentUs, ” Lynn, it’s, Kathy Boockvar, Lynn, Dawson, Donald Trump Organizations: Hollywood, NBC News, YouTube, New Hampshire Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, U.S, Department of Homeland Security, College, Trump Locations: Ben Cardin of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iran

His supporters have dubbed Marwan Barghouti the “Palestinian Nelson Mandela” in the hope that after more than two decades behind bars, he can emulate the late South African leader and make the journey from prisoner to national unifier. At that time, Palestinian militants carried out deadly suicide bombings and shootings inside both Israel and the Palestinian territories, targeting buses, restaurants and hotels. “He’s someone who creates something out of nothing, and he believes in education for the Palestinian people,” Arab Barghouti added. Palestinian protesters wave flags and placards bearing portraits of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in 2015. “Ami Ayalon and others have said Marwan Barghouti may be the one leader who can be an effective partner for peace,” he said.

Persons: Yasser Arafat, Marwan Barghouti, Nelson Mandela ”, Ami Ayalon, Mahmoud Abbas, Yahya Sinwar, “, ”, Arab, Barghouti, Father Germanos, masterminding, Arafat, Fatah, William Campbell, Marco Longari, Abbas, ” Mira Al, he’s, Osama Hamdan, Abbas Momani, Ayalon, Shin, I’m, Sen, Chris Van Hollen, “ Ami Ayalon, Israel, Gilad Shalit, They’re, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Barghouti’s, Fadwa, ‘ I’m, ’ Organizations: Bank, West Bank, Palestinian Center, Policy, Survey Research, Hamas, American Embassy, NBC News, U.S . Office, Palestinian Affairs, Prosecutors, European Council, Foreign Relations, Brigades, Fatah, ., “, Getty, West, Palestinian Authority, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations, NBC, National Organization of Locations: RAMALLAH, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Israel, Gaza, American, Tel Aviv, Fatah, West Bank, Kobar, Aqsa, AFP, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, ”, Palestine

☆ Jimmy Carter is setting a new record for American presidents. It’s important for everyone
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +25 min

Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images Carter works at a construction site sponsored by the Jimmy Carter Work Project in Asan, South Korea, in 2001. Alex Wong/Getty Images Carter meets with Obama and other former presidents at the White House in January 2009. Richard Lewis/The Elders/Getty Images Carter was interviewed for "The Presidents' Gatekeepers" project at the Carter Center in Atlanta in September 2011. Chris McKay/Getty Images Carter talks about his cancer diagnosis during a news conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta in August 2015. The 1983 tweaks to Social Security included, for instance, the counting of some Social Security benefits as taxable income and a gradual increase of the retirement age from 65 to 67.

Persons: Jimmy Carter, Carter, John Quincy Adams, It’s, CNN’s Stephen Collinson, ” Carter, “, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Rosalynn, Lillian, Gloria, . Bradley, Jimmy, Horace Cort, —, John Storey, Stan Wayman, Amy, Walter Mondale, Gerald Ford, Ford, Warren Burger, Rosalynn Carter, Billy, Simons, Barry Thumma, Harvey Georges, Helmut Schmidt, Schmidt, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, Camp David, Carter's, Carter jogs, Karl Schumacher, Dirck Halstead, Leonid Brezhnev, Chuck McManis, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, Robert Burgess, Joe Holloway Jr, AP Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Paul J, Richards, Clinton, Chung Sung, Fidel Castro, Adalberto Roque, Arne Knudsen, Hugo Chavez's, Juan Barreto, Howard Dean, Erik S, Scott Olson, Marco Longari, Michael Williamson, Barack Obama's, Alex Wong, Obama, George W, Bush, J, Scott Applewhite, Mark Wilson, Ismail Haniya, Mahmud Hams, Jung Yeon, Nelson Mandela, Jeff Moore, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, Gomes, Darren McCollester, Sheikh Jarrah, Mary Robinson, Bernat, George, Kris Connor, Raul Castro, Javier Galeano, Richard Lewis, David Hume Kennerly, Michelle Obama, Martin Luther King Jr, Jewel Samad, Brian Kersey, Chris McKay, Phil Skinner, Donald Trump, Saul Loeb, Jim Chapin, Drew Angerer, Matt McClain, Dan Quinn, Scott Cunningham, Chip Somodevilla, Mark Humphrey, John Amis, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Adam Schultz, John Bazemore, Michael S, Williamson, Jason Carter, Evelyn Hockstein, Jimmy Carter's, there’s, aren’t, – Carter, Ronald Reagan –, CNN’s Eva Rothenberg, ” Regan, dismissively, gaslighting, “ Governor Reagan, Reagan empaneled, Alan Greenspan, Donald Trump’s, Kamala Harris Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Medicare, Carter, ”, Habitat, Humanity, Bettmann, Jimmy, AP, US Naval Academy, Democratic, Atlanta, Hulton, Democratic National Convention, Walnut, Theater, Ford, Getty Images, Department of Energy, West, Airlift, Camp, AFP, Getty, Democratic National Committee, White House, Ronald Reagan Library, Andrews Air Force Base, United Nations, Trinity Church, Summit, America's, Getty Images Cuban, University of Havana, Venezuelan, Department of Defense, Washington Post, White, Foreign, Korea University, North, South, Boston's Logan International Airport, Irish, Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, Carter Center, Lincoln Memorial, Sunday School, Maranatha Baptist Church, Hurricane Relief, College, College Station ,, Secret Service, Atlanta Falcons, NFL, Former, The New York Times, Pew Research Center, Congressional Research Service, Security Locations: Cuba, Guinea, Iraq, Winnipeg, Canada, George H.W ., United States, Elk City , Oklahoma, Plains , Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Georgia's St, Florida, Panama, Vietnam, Berlin, Maryland, Egypt, Israel, Pennsylvania, Vienna, Austria, Los Angeles, Arab, Wiesbaden, West Germany, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, AFP, New, Asan , South Korea, Havana, Oslo, Norway, Caracas, Venezuela, American, Connecticut, Boston, Maputo, Mozambique, DC, Ghana, Gaza, Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, Johannesburg, Jerusalem, Sheikh, Pyongyang, Chicago, College Station, College Station , Texas, Nashville , Tennessee, Plains

☆ For him or against him, young men see the election as all about Trump: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar breaks down the latest installment of the NBC News Deciders Focus Group series, which featured young men from battleground states who are skeptical of both candidates. For him or against him, young men see the election as all about TrumpBy Ben KamisarNew focus groups of skeptical young men planning to vote in this fall’s most critical battleground states illustrate how, for them, this election is all about Donald Trump. The battle for young votersPolling has shown a significant gender gap in the presidential race, with Trump holding the upper hand among men and Harris with women. The two campaigns have been vocal about their attempts to win over young men — Trump through the world of influencers and combat sports, and Harris through targeted ads and the refrain about vice presidential nominee Tim Walz’s past as an assistant football coach. Read more → Follow live updates from the campaign trail →That’s all from the Politics Desk for now.

Persons: Ben Kamisar, Jonathan Allen, Donald Trump, —, Harris, ” “ Kamala Harris, MAGA, John M, Trump, “, ”, Drake, SurveyMonkey, — Trump, Tim Walz’s, → Harris, Garrett Haake, Sen, Mike McDonnell —, — Sen, Lindsey Graham, Jane Kleeb, McDonnell, Harris ’, Joe Biden, Ben Kamsiar, Kamala Harris ’, Donald Trump’s, Alex Conant, — we’ve, ” Conant, Read, loos Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Capitol Hill, Trump, Wisconsin —, Syracuse University, Democratic, Republican Party, GOP, Trump reminisced, Congressional, Electoral, Republican, Democrats ’, Nebraska Democratic Party, NBC News, doling, Republicans, ntr, aig Locations: Nebraska, Michigan , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Omaha, — Maine, Nebraska’s, Omaha —, Pennsylvania , Michigan, Georgia

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin was targeted by a caller who posed as a former top Ukrainian official during a recent Zoom call, according to a notice circulated to Senate offices and obtained by NBC News on Wednesday. According to the notice, the caller's questioning was "likely trying to bate the Senator into commenting on a political candidate." Cardin and his staff ended the call, the notice said, adding that Cardin's office contacted the State Department, which confirmed the caller was not Kuleba. Cardin referred to the caller as a "malign actor" in a statement about the incident his office released Wednesday night. NBC News reported this month that the Justice Department plans to file criminal charges in connection with the hacking of Trump’s campaign, according to two law enforcement officials.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Dmytro Kuleba, Punchbowl, Cardin, ”, bate, “, ” Cardin, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden's Organizations: Foreign Relations, Ukrainian, NBC News, Ukrainian Foreign, State Department, The State Department, Capitol Police, FBI, Justice Department Locations: Iran

☆ China frees American pastor who U.S. claims was wrongly jailed
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

China has freed David Lin, a U.S. pastor who had been in jail since 2006, the State Department said Sunday, marking the release of a man who Washington claims was wrongfully detained. U.S. politicians had for years urged Beijing to free Lin, who was jailed for life on charges of contract fraud. “We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China. American pastor David Lin and his daughter Alice in 1984. Bring Our Families Home Campaign/ Alice LinLin’s daughter Alice earlier told Politico that her 68-year-old father would be arriving in San Antonio, Texas.

Persons: David Lin, Washington, Lin, David Lin’s, ”, Alice, Alice Lin Lin’s, “, ” Politico, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kai Li, Mark Swidan, Li, Swidan Organizations: State Department, Politico, Senate Foreign Locations: China, U.S, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, United States, San Antonio , Texas, Mark Swidan . Washington

☆ Biden signals openness to using Western long-range missiles inside Russia as he meets Britain’s leader to discuss
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The president has long resisted calls from Ukrainian officials to ease restrictions on the weapons. “We’re working that out right now,” Biden said when questioned this week whether he would permit Western-provided long-range missiles to target military sites like airfields, missile launchers, fuel tanks and ammunition depots inside Russia. Still, that the conversation over long-range weapons is happening at all is an indication of how stalled battlefield dynamics are causing western leaders to rethink their approach. The revelation that Iran has been providing Russia with ballistic missiles has changed the debate over Ukraine’s capabilities, Lammy said. Earlier in the week, the bipartisan congressional Ukraine caucus called on Biden to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia with the long-range weapons.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, Friday’s Biden, Starmer, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken, “, it’s, we’ll, ” Blinken, Andrii Sybiha, David Lammy, Lammy, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Ukraine’s, Sen, Ben Cardin, Jeanne Shaheen of, ” Shaheen, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, British, White, US, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Ukrainian, National Security, Labour Party’s, NATO, Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Defense Department, Ukraine “, Senior, Senate Foreign Relations, Biden, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, United Kingdom, Kyiv, France, Iran, Western, Kursk, Washington, Russian, United States, British, Germany, Crimea, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire

CNN —Pressure is building on President Joe Biden, including from within his own party, to loosen the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US-provided weapons to strike deep inside Russia. On Tuesday, the bipartisan congressional Ukraine caucus called on Biden to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia with the long-range weapons. A group of key House Republican also urged Biden to ease the restrictions in a letter on Monday. On Tuesday, asked if the US will lift the restrictions, Biden answered, “we’re working that out right now.”Two US officials later told CNN that the Biden administration is not anticipating any policy changes when it comes to lifting restrictions. Asked about Trump’s comments, Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, also downplayed them.

Persons: Joe Biden, Democratic Sen, Jeanne Shaheen, Biden, Ben Cardin, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, Cardin, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, David Lammy, Leon Neal, Zelensky, Blinken, “, we’ll, ” Blinken, Andrii Sybiha, it’s, We’ve, Putin, Donald Trump, we’re Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Wednesday, Biden Administration, Ukrainian Armed Forces, New Hampshire Democrat, Foreign Relations, Committee, Armed Services Committee, Republicans, ” Democratic, Maryland Democrat, British, Getty, Kyiv Wednesday, Ukrainian, Biden, Republican, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, ”, U.S, United States, Maryland, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Eastern Poland, Iranian, Iran, Washington, American, United States of America

WASHINGTON — Thousands of overseas American diplomats are at risk of a sharp pay cut at the beginning of October unless Congress passes a legislative fix in the coming weeks. And a 22% reduction in their pay would be a needless and demoralizing harm. “The Department of State continues to work with Congress on the urgent need for an extension,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. The pay snafu, first reported by Politico, is the unintended consequence of a funding structure that requires action from Congress. With the fate of their wages tied to the funding fight, American diplomats could be left in the lurch.

Persons: Sen, Chris Coons, it’s, ” Coons, Ben Cardin, he’s, “ We’re, ” Cardin, there’s, ” AFSA, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, “, ”, Tom Yazdgerdi Organizations: WASHINGTON, Capitol, Foreign Relations, NBC News, Overseas, Washington , D.C, State Department, American Foreign Service Association, Congress, Senate Foreign, National Defense, U.S . Agency for International Development, Democratic, Republican, Senate, Department of State, Politico Locations: Washington ,, D, American, United States

☆ Menendez Will Resign From Senate, Avoiding an Ugly, Intraparty Battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Tracey Tully | Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Menendez’s decision to quit months before the end of his third term will likely allow Democrats to avoid a potentially ugly intraparty fight at a highly fraught political moment. New Jersey’s Democratic governor, Philip D. Murphy, is expected to appoint a replacement who would serve until January. Mr. Menendez, 70, has insisted that he is innocent and vowed to appeal the guilty verdict. The decision, first reported by The New Jersey Globe, was described by four people familiar with Mr. Menendez’s remarks who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. One of them said Mr. Menendez planned to step down on Aug. 20 and could announce the decision publicly as soon as Tuesday afternoon.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Philip D, Murphy, Mr, Menendez, Menendez’s Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, The New, The New Jersey Globe Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Union City, N.J, Washington, The New Jersey

CNN —Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will resign his seat effective August 20, according to a copy of his resignation letter obtained by CNN. Menendez had faced mounting pressure from within his own party to resign or face the threat of expulsion from the Senate. Receipt of Menendez’s resignation letter was announced Tuesday on the Senate floor in a brief exchange between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Presiding Officer Sen. Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont. “In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said in a statement. Menendez stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last year, but had long rejected calls to resign his US Senate seat.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, —, Chuck Schumer, Sen, Peter Welch, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Curtis Bashaw, ” Menendez, “, ”, Schumer, ” Schumer, Menendez’s, Prosecutors, Nadine Menendez, Salomon Melgen, Manu Raju, Ted Barrett, Owen Dahlkamp Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Bob Menendez of New, Senate, Vermont . New, Vermont . New Jersey Gov, Democrat, Capitol, Senate Foreign, Mercedes, Benz, Hyatt Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, New Jersey, Vermont ., Vermont . New Jersey, Paris

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks to the media as he exits Manhattan federal court on July 16, 2024 in New York City. WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has told allies that he will resign from Congress after being convicted on federal corruption charges, two people directly familiar with those conversations tell NBC News. Among those who urged him to resign were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; and Menendez's friend and fellow New Jersey Democratic senator, Cory Booker. He had two stints as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a post he relinquished last year after his indictment. Menendez "provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt," the indictment alleged.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, New York City . WASHINGTON — Sen, Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Cory Booker, Schumer, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Curtis Bashaw, Nadine, Weeks, he'd, retry Menendez Organizations: NBC, New, New Jersey Democratic, Senate, New Jersey Gov, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, Government, of, Prosecutors, Office Locations: Manhattan, New York City . WASHINGTON, New Jersey, Jersey, Union City, of Egypt, Florida

☆ What to Know About the Intricate Menendez Corruption Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Benjamin Weiser | Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey was convicted on Tuesday of taking part in a complicated bribery scheme in which he traded political favors for cash, gold bars and other gifts. Federal prosecutors said the plot began in February 2018, less than a month after Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, was cleared of charges tied to an unrelated federal corruption case in New Jersey. Here are the central elements of the case against the senator and his two co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, two New Jersey businessmen:Aiding EgyptMr. Menendez was charged with using his influence and power as a senator in ways that benefited both the government of Egypt and Mr. Hana, an American citizen who emigrated from Egypt and was trying to get a halal meat certification company off the ground in New Jersey. Mr. Menendez, a former leader of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was accused of steering weapons and aid to Egypt in exchange for bribes.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Egypt Mr, Hana Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New Jersey, Jersey, Egypt, American

A Manhattan jury returned the verdict after deliberating for about 13 hours over three days in Federal District Court. Mr. Menendez was found guilty on all 16 counts he faced, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and acting as an agent for Egypt. The verdict made Mr. Menendez the first United States senator to be found guilty of acting as an agent of a foreign power and the seventh to be convicted of a federal crime while in office. Mr. Menendez, 70, now faces the possibility of many years in prison when he is sentenced by the judge, Sidney H. Stein. The judge said he would sentence Mr. Menendez on Oct. 29.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Sidney H, Stein Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, Court, United Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, Egypt, United States

☆ Biden's high-stakes NATO speech wasn't a disaster. But it's not going to change anyone's mind.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Just before the news conference, Biden referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, standing nearby, as Russian President Vladimir Putin before quickly correcting himself. Advertisement"Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," Biden said before quickly realizing his mistake and adding, "He's gonna beat President Putin, President Zelenskyy." "I'm so focused on beating President Putin," he said. Following the press conference, pundits and journalists acknowledged his command of the issues. AdvertisementBiden's press conference was likely never going to assuage Democrats' concerns.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Harris, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Zelenskyy, Biden's, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Barack Obama, Jim Himes, Brad Schneider Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Business, Trump, White, The Associated Press, Foreign, NATO, House Intelligence Committee, Illinois, CNN Locations: Jim Himes of Connecticut

But he urged the jury to refocus of what he called a “clear pattern of corruption.”“The timeline tells you what happened,” he said. Afterward, Mr. Monteleoni said that the businessman, Wael Hana, and another wealthy associate began paying Ms. Menendez a generous salary. Mr. Monteleoni said that was not believable, and he presented text messages and Google search history that he said showed Mr. Menendez knew exactly what his wife was receiving. Mr. Monteleoni was expected to complete his closing argument on Tuesday morning. Mr. Menendez fumed as he left the courthouse on Monday.

Persons: Robert Menendez, ” Prosecutors, Nadine Menendez, Paul Monteleoni, ”, “, Menendez, Nadine, Mr, Monteleoni, Wael Hana, Menendez fumed Organizations: ”, Robert Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, Department of Agriculture, Senate Foreign Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, New Jersey

☆ Biden didn't show up for an early evening meeting with the German chancellor because he had to go to bed: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden canceled an early evening meeting with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the last minute because he had to go to bed, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. According to the report, the chancellor and his aides were surprised by Biden's absence and Blinken's appearance. Related storiesThe Journal report said that the White House has consistently reduced Biden's daily schedule and shielded him from impromptu meetings. AdvertisementBoth CNN and The New York Times have reported that Biden told governors he needed to get more sleep and stop holding events after 8 p.m. The White House has not responded to these claims.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Antony Blinken, Biden, Axios, Donald Trump, ABC's George Stephanopolous, Abigail Disney, Walt Disney's grandniece Organizations: Service, Wall Street, Business, State Department, White, CNN, The New York Times, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, Trump, Alliance, Biden Locations: Germany, Ukraine, China, Russia, Washington

agents raided the New Jersey home of Senator Robert Menendez and his wife, they found envelope after envelope of cash, a federal prosecutor told a jury on Monday. Cash stuffed in bags, cash stuffed in the pockets of the senator’s jackets, cash stuffed in his boots. “It wasn’t enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington,” Mr. Monteleoni told jurors. “It wasn’t enough for him to be entrusted by the public with the power to approve billions of dollars of U.S. military aid to foreign countries.”“No, Robert Menendez wanted all that power,” he added. “But he also wanted to use it to pile up riches for himself and his wife.”

Persons: F.B.I, Robert Menendez, Cash, Menendez, Paul M, Monteleoni, ” Mr, ” Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations Locations: New Jersey, Washington

☆ ‘Is There Any Chance He Can Sit on a Camel?’ A Senator’s Wife Wanted to Know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In March 2019, an aide to Senator Robert Menendez drafted a letter that used strong language to criticize the president of Egypt and the country’s human rights record. Mr. Menendez declined to sign it. Mr. Menendez, then the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he wanted to try a less confrontational approach, the aide, Sarah Arkin, testified on Monday at the senator’s bribery trial. “We’ve been going after them for so long on human rights — have been really out there publicly criticizing them — and it hasn’t really changed anything on the ground,” Ms. Arkin, a senior staff member with the committee, said Mr. Menendez had told her. Instead, Mr. Menendez said he wanted “to be a little less publicly critical and do more private and quiet engagement,” Ms. Arkin said.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Sarah Arkin, “ We’ve, Ms, Arkin, Mr, “, ” Ms Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Egypt

☆ Jim Risch: Top Republican on Senate Foreign Relations panel threatens to block committee action over ICC sanctions bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the House measure as a “divisive partisan bill” and said he is trying to reach a deal with Republicans to move bipartisan sanctions legislation. “Defending Israel from this flawed and biased prosecution deserves the same united support we share for the entire US-Israel relationship,” he said. “Political maneuvering by Republicans have made a bipartisan bill more difficult, but I have continued talks with those Republicans who are genuinely interested in a bipartisan path forward.”Cardin met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday afternoon. “If we’re going to get to the finish line, we’re going to need a bipartisan bill,” he said. We work well together.”Risch posted of X that he looks forward to the ICC legislation being on the agenda of the committee’s next meeting.

Persons: Republican Sen, Jim Risch’s, Suzanne Wrasse, Risch, Democratic Sen, Ben Cardin, ”, Israel, ” Cardin, Chuck Schumer, Cardin, Joe Biden, “ Sen, I’ve, ” Risch Organizations: CNN, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, International Criminal Court, Hamas, Punchbowl News, ICC, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, Foreign Relations, “ Locations: Israel, Idaho, Ben Cardin of Maryland

☆ Menendez Jurors Hear Audio and See Texts From Seized Phones
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

On Jan. 31, 2018, the day Senator Robert Menendez was formally cleared of bribery charges that had dogged him for nearly three years in New Jersey, he got a text from Nadine Arslanian, a woman he would soon begin to date and later marry. “Now re-election!!! !” Ms. Arslanian wrote. “Yes!” Mr. Menendez replied before asking, “Are you around on Friday?”She was. After a dinner date at a New Jersey restaurant, it was Ms. Arslanian’s turn to send a text with a question: “What is your international position?”Mr. Menendez, 70, responded that he was the “ranking member” on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — “which means senior Democrat.”

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Arslanian, “, Arslanian, Mr, Menendez, Arslanian’s, ” Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations Locations: New Jersey

☆ Blinken says he wants to work with Congress to penalize International Criminal Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Michael Conte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he wants to work with Congress on legislation to penalize the International Criminal Court after it applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan also issued warrants for senior Hamas officials, including its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The Biden administration came out forcefully against Khan on Monday for his decision to apply for the warrants against top Israel officials on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has faced questions about its condemnation of the ICC’s actions while saying it continues to support the court’s investigation into Russian war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration previously sanctioned ICC officials by executive order in 2020 over its investigation of possible war crimes by US military and intelligence officials in Afghanistan, sanctions that the Biden administration lifted the next year.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, “, ” Blinken, Biden, Karim Khan, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, Republican Sen, James Risch, ”, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Khan, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Lloyd Austin, Matthew Miller, “ We’ll, ” Miller, Trump Organizations: CNN, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations, Republican, ICC, Israel, American Heritage, Republicans, “, White House, ”, Ukraine Defense Contact, . State Department Locations: Netherlands, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Afghanistan

☆ U.S. questions China's no-first-use nuclear call given buildup
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Referring also to Russia, Jenkins said China's nuclear buildup "raises the specter that United States may soon face two expansionary and significantly nuclear-armed peers." "Beijing's development of a larger, more diverse nuclear arsenal is deeply concerning, and raises questions about the trajectory of the PRC nuclear weapons program," she said. Jenkins was asked about China's call in February for states with the largest nuclear arsenals to negotiate a treaty on no-first-use of nuclear weapons against each other or to make a political statement in this regard. She said it was the first time the U.S. had heard such a proposal from China, underscoring the need for nuclear talks. "Our questions are, quite frankly, how does an idea for no-first-use really fit within their ongoing process of building up nuclear weapons?

Persons: Bonnie Jenkins, Jenkins, specter, hadn't Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations Locations: China, Washington, U.S, People's Republic of China, Russia, States

☆ Sen. Robert Menendez bribery trial: Opening statements expected in corruption case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), arrives at Federal Court, for his bribery trial in connection with an alleged corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in New York City, U.S., May 14, 2024. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are poised Wednesday to select a full jury and deliver opening statements in the federal bribery trial of Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Prosecutors will begin their opening statements shortly afterward "if all goes to plan," the judge said. A third New Jersey businessman charged in the case, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty in March and agreed to cooperate with the federal prosecutors. Nadine Menendez has not been in court with her husband.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Sen, Sidney Stein, Stein, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hanna, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe Organizations: Federal Court, Prosecutors, Robert Menendez of New, Democratic, Benz, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Locations: Jersey, New York City, U.S, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, Egypt, Qatar, New Jersey

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