Dems say Hunter Biden friend's testimony is being 'grossly misrepresented'
And 6 Mississippi officers plead guilty to torturing 2 Black men.
Early this morning, we analyzed 943 news articles across 31 outlets and located the primary sources for the most important stories. Here's what's happening today.
Democrats say Republicans 'grossly misrepresented' Devon Archer’s testimony
On Thursday, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer released the transcript of Devon Archer’s interview on the Biden family’s business dealings.
“Devon Archer confirmed then-Vice President Joe Biden was “the brand” that his son sold around the world to enrich the Biden family,” stated Comer. He added: “Then-Vice President Biden joined Hunter Biden and his business associates for dinners or by phone over 20 times to sell “the brand” and send a signal about their power, access, and influence.”
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D) wrote in a memo that Committee Republicans had “grossly misrepresented the transcribed interview the Committee conducted with Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business associate.”
“Once again, Committee Republicans’ priority investigation into President Biden has failed to produce any evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden,” stated Raskin. He said Archer confirmed that “President Biden was never involved in Hunter’s business dealings, never profited from such dealings, and never took official action in relation to these business dealings.”
“Mr. Archer repeatedly explained that across a decade-long relationship with Hunter Biden, he was not aware of President Biden ever discussing Hunter Biden’s business,” Raskin continued. “Instead, Devon Archer described how Hunter Biden sold the ‘illusion’ of access to his father—access he never actually provided.”
6 Mississippi officers plead guilty to torturing 2 Black men
The Department of Justice has announced that six white officers in Mississippi have pled guilty to significant civil rights offenses following their assault of two Black men. Three of these officers also pleaded guilty to the use of excessive force against another victim in a separate incident.
The first incident involved two Black Men who were “arrested without probable cause, unlawfully detained, beaten, and tortured, and then falsely charged with serious criminal offenses.” Various objects, such as a metal sword, a piece of wood, and a wooden kitchen implement, were used during the assault.
The officers further escalated their intimidation by deploying a Taser and triggering a firearm, which went through the victim’s mouth and throat and exited through the neck, causing life-threatening injuries. Instead of offering the victim medical aid, the officers were deemed to have conspired to plant and manipulate evidence to blame the shooting on the victim.
Three of the officers involved in this case also admitted guilt in a separate incident last year, in which another person was beaten and tased, with one officer firing a gun near the victim’s head to coerce a confession.
Polish PM says Wagner Group is moving on NATO’s eastern border
Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki warns that Wagner Group forces in Belarus are being moved to NATO’s eastern flank.
Posting on Facebook yesterday, Morawiecki said: “Poland is today the subject of provocation and hybrid attacks from Belarus and Russia. There has been constant pressure on our eastern border for two years.”
Morawiecki reportedly spoke with the President of Lithuania about the Wagner Group, “whose approximately 4,000 members are in Belarus.”
Morawiecki also warned that Wagner members could pose as immigrants to get to Poland and other NATO countries for “subversive activities”. He said, ”I warn against this because it is a major security risk. That is why we are increasing the presence of soldiers on the Polish-Belarusian border.”
Biden calls for immediate release of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum
President Biden has called for the immediate release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum and his family following the military coup in Niger.
“The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders. They have expressed their will through free and fair elections—and that must be respected,” President Biden stated. “I call for President Bazoum and his family to be immediately released, and for the preservation of Niger’s hard-earned democracy.”
Mohamed Bazoum was democratically elected in 2021 and remains “the only legitimate President of Niger,” according to European Union High Representative Josep Borrell. The European Union is suspending support budgets and security cooperation activities with Niger because of the “unacceptable attack on the integrity of Niger’s republican institution.”
In an opinion piece published by the Washington Post, President Bazoum said he was writing “as a hostage.”
Quote of the day
“The transcript released today shows the extent to which Congressional Republicans are willing to distort, twist, and manipulate the facts presented by their own witness just to keep fueling the far-right media’s obsession with fabricating wrongdoing by President Biden in a desperate effort to distract from Donald Trump’s third indictment and the overwhelming evidence of his persistent efforts to undermine American democracy.”
- Representative Jamie Raskin