August 2 top stories
It is August 2. Here are today’s top stories.
Trump indicted for trying to overthrow 2020 election
On Tuesday, former president Donald Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in D.C. on four charges that are related to his various efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden leading up to the Jan 6. riot at the Capitol.
Trump is facing four charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
Here are some highlights of the 45-page indictment from Special Counsel Jack Smith.
It said Trump and his co-conspirators pressured officials in certain states to ignore the popular vote. Trump would make claims that there was widespread fraud such as numerous dead people or illegal immigrants voting. Trump never provided evidence of fraud and many judges and courts rejected these claims, but Trump would persist with his claims.
It said Trump and his co-conspirators came up with a plan to organize fraudulent slates of electors. Electors is an important thing here. In America, during presidential elections, after a certain state has counted whoever gained the most votes — the popular vote — the states will then use its electors. They are political leaders from a state or those who are involved in the political process. They will step up in their roles and say they represent a certain state. If that state voted for Biden, then the elector will mark it down that Biden won. Or if a state chose Trump, then the elector would mark down that Trump won. What Trump and his co-conspirators wanted to do is to get different electors and encourage them to sign certificates falsely representing that they were legitimate electors that represented the popular vote in each state. The plan was for Vice President Mike Pence to, on Jan 6., to dismiss the “real” electors and instead recognize the fraudulent pro-Trump electors. That would mean Trump wins a certain state.
But that plan was blocked because Vice President Pence refused to do this. He said he did not have authority to do this. Trump told Pence that he was “too honest.”
On Jan 6., after the crowd broke into the Capitol, Trump tweeted that Vice President Pence did not have courage. Some rioters shouted that they wanted to hang Pence.
The indictment said Trump wanted to take away Americans’ Constitutional right to vote and have one’s vote counted.
This is the third criminal case against Trump. Trump, who is due in court tomorrow, said the charges are fake.
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter sentenced to death
The gunman who carried out a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 and killed 11 people was sentenced to death in a federal court. It is the first death penalty sentence under the Biden administration.
The shooter’s name is Robert Bowers (50). The synagogue is called the “Tree of Life.” Those who were killed included an elderly married couple, a physician, an accountant, and a pair of brothers. Several victims were Holocaust survivors.
Prosecutors said Bowers should get the death penalty because he had a hatred for Jews and an ongoing lack of remorse.
Bowers was found guilty of the shooting in June and is now sentenced to death.
The Biden administration has a moratorium in place on all federal executions pending review of policy and procedures.
Taylor Swift gives $55 million in bonuses
News reports say Taylor Swift has given bonuses totaling $55 million to workers who set up and are a part of her Eras Tour that has crisscrossed the U.S. since March.
Swift is said to give about 50 truck drivers on her tour $100,000 each. She also gave bonuses to her band, backup dancers and technical crew.
Swift is currently set to perform in Los Angeles and then she will go to Mexico later this month to begin the international phase of her tour. She will travel to South America, Asia, Australia and Europe through 2024.
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Henrietta Lacks’ estate settles lawsuit over use of cells
Axios reported that the estate of Henrietta Lacks settled a lawsuit against a biotechnology company that allegedly profited from cervical cells that were taken from her in the 1950s without her consent.
Lacks’ cells were retrieved when she was receiving treatment for cervical cancer about 70 years ago at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
PBS said she happened to have special, immortal cells that continued to divide when most cells would die. The cells allowed scientists to conduct studies that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do on a living person. The cells, called “HeLa” cells after Lacks’ name, is still in use today and have helped with developing vaccines for polio and Covid-19, in cancer research, and other medical advances.
But Lacks, who died of cancer in 1951, had no idea that her cells were being used in this way.
Her family’s attorney sued the Thermo Fisher Scientific company about two years ago and now they have reached a settlement. It is unknown what the terms of the settlement are.
Canadian PM Trudeau announces separation from wife
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Instagram that he and his wife, Sophie, have made the decision to separate.
Trudeau said the two had many difficult conversations before making the decision and said they, as always, remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other.
ABC News said the couple have been married since 2005 and have three children together.
That’s all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/politics/co-conspirators-trump-indictment/index.html
https://www.axios.com/2023/08/01/henrietta-lacks-settlement-thermo-fisher-scientific
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/pittsburgh-shooting-robert-bowers-death-penalty/