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The Independent
a few seconds ago
- The Independent
Trump's Justice Department is investigating whether DC police officials falsified crime data
The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C., have falsified crime data, according to a person familiar with the probe who wasn't authorized to publicly discuss an open investigation. The investigation comes amid an escalating — and political — showdown between the Trump administration and the city over control of the police department. It wasn't immediately clear what federal laws could have been violated by the possible manipulation of crime data. The mayor's office declined to comment on the matter. The New York Times was first to report on the investigation. Earlier this year, a Metropolitan Police Department commander suspected of manipulating crime data was placed on paid administrative leave, NBC Washington reported. ___ Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed to this report.
The Independent
a few seconds ago
- The Independent
The Latest: Trump says no to US troops in Ukraine
President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to Ukraine to defend against Russia, after seeming to leave open the possibility the day before. Trump also said in a morning TV interview that Ukraine's hopes of joining NATO and regaining the Crimean Peninsula are 'impossible.' Details of the security guarantees and Trump's efforts to arrange peace talks continue to evolve after the U.S. president, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders held hours of talks at the White House aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine. European leaders said they want U.S. support for 'robust security guarantees,' including the 'deployment of a reassurance force' as Trump pursues his campaign promise to end the grinding war. Here's the latest: Justice Department probing whether DC police falsified crime data The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C., have falsified crime data, according to a person familiar with the probe who wasn't authorized to publicly discuss an open investigation. The investigation comes amid an escalating — and political — showdown between the Trump administration and the city over control of the police department. It wasn't immediately clear what federal laws could have been violated by the possible manipulation of crime data. The mayor's office declined to comment on the matter. The New York Times was first to report on the investigation. Earlier this year, a Metropolitan Police Department commander suspected of manipulating crime data was placed on paid administrative leave, NBC Washington reported. The IRS fired probationary workers without following protocol, says IRS Inspector General The IRS fired more than 7,000 probationary employees earlier this year without following internal procedures and failed to consider the workers' individual performance, despite firing them for bad performance reviews, a new report states. The report was released by the IRS' Inspector General, Tuesday. It does not contain recommendations and is informational only. Treasury's Inspector General for Tax Administration states that several senior IRS officials raised concerns to the IRS' inspector general that probationary employees did not have documented performance issues and were falsely terminated for bad performance. The report states that many workers never had a performance review since they had only been recently hired. And of the 3,599 probationary employees who received a performance rating,3,251 (or 90 percent) had a fully successful rating on their evaluation and 305 (8 percent) had an outstanding rating. Trump's afterlife aspirations may be helping to drive his calculations on Ukraine Leavitt says she doesn't think Trump was joking when he suggested during a Fox News Channel interview that he was helping to seek peace between Russia and Ukraine, at least in part, because he wanted to go to heaven. 'I think the president was serious,' the press secretary said. She then added, to a smattering of laughter from reporters in the White House briefing room, 'I think the president wants to get to heaven, as I hope we all do in this room as well.' White House: Commerce working on Intel deal The White House said Tuesday that the administration is working on a deal that would have the U.S. take a 10% stake in the computer chip maker Intel. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Commerce Department, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick, is working on it and 'ironing out the details.' 'The president wants to put America's needs first, both from a national security and economic perspective,' Leavitt said Tuesday. 'It's a creative idea that has never been done before to ensure that we're both reshoring these critical supply chains, while also gaining something of it for the American taxpayer.' White House says Putin promised Trump he'd have a direct meeting with Zelenskyy The Kremlin has not yet said whether Putin has signed off on Trump's push to arrange direct talks between the Russian leader and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But asked Tuesday's whether Putin has promised Trump that he'll meet directly with the Ukrainian leader, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded affirmatively. 'He has,' Leavitt said of Putin. Trump early on Monday during talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders said that he was pressing for three-way talks among Zelenskyy, Putin and himself. But after speaking to Putin later in the day, Trump said that he was arranging first for a face-to-face between Zelenskyy and Putin and that three-way talks would follow if necessary. 'It was an idea that evolved in the course of the president's conversations with both President Putin, President Zelensky and the European leaders yesterday,' Leavitt explained. Top UN official welcomes US peace efforts on Russia-Ukraine, says talks should remain 'inclusive' Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said Tuesday that his boss 'very much welcomes' President Donald Trump's focus 'on achieving a peaceful settlement in Ukraine' through the summits held in the last week. But he indicated that its crucial Ukraine remains at the table for any future negotiation. 'For him, it's very important that all involved continue to stay actively engaged and we want to an inclusive dialogue to sustain the important momentum that was created to bring an immediate ceasefire and sustainable peace,' Dujarric said. He added that the U.N. stands ready to provide any peacekeeping efforts as part of the security guarantees that are being discussed. Pediatricians: 'We need to make the right choices for children' The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. This age group is at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it's important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious diseases committee. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, and are recommended for older children whose chronic lung diseases or other conditions put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said. 'It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,' Campbell said. In a statement, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said 'the AAP is undermining national immunization policymaking with baseless political attacks.' ▶ Read more about the differing recommendations on vaccines US pediatricians' new COVID-19 shot recommendations differ from CDC advice For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations. The group's new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing. The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said. That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn't recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians. Trump is trying to avoid a congressional check on his power Both Trump and the Democrats are looking ahead to 2026 knowing that the next midterm elections often go against the president's party, as they did during Trump's first term in 2018. Republicans currently have a seven-seat majority in the 435-member House. State legislatures draw the lines after each U.S. census in most states — including Texas — and only a few dozen House districts are competitive. In Texas, Republicans hold 25 of 38 seats, and they're trying to increase that to 30. In California, Democrats have 43 of the 52 seats, and they're trying to boost that to 48, to wipe out the advantage the GOP would gain from redrawing lines in Texas. Texas Democrat spends night in Legislature protesting police shadowing in redistricting battle Republicans are hoping to prevent more quorum delays as they redraw the U.S. House maps to give Trump five more seats, so they've required Democratic legislators to agree to around-the-clock surveillance before they leave the floor. Rep. Nicole Collier, of Fort Worth, said she spent the night in the chamber rather than sign away her dignity and allow Republicans to 'control my movements and monitor me.' 'I know these maps will harm my constituents,' her statement said. 'I won't just go along quietly with their intimidation or their discrimination.' The Department of Public Safety didn't immediately respond Tuesday to a message seeking comment. The Democrats' return to Texas puts the Republican-run Legislature in position to satisfy Trump's demands. If they do, California Democrats are preparing to retaliate by asking voters to approve their own new congressional boundaries. ▶ Read more about redistricting battles It's gratitude diplomacy: Showering Trump with thanks World leaders understand that flattery is the way to winning over the unpredictable Trump, having taken their cue from Zelenskyy 's disastrous White House scolding six months ago. With peace talks on the table, Zelenskyy thanked Trump and others nine times in the first minute of their initial public meeting at the White House on Monday. Appearing later with top leaders from Europe, Zelenskyy expressed his thanks at least seven more times, twice for a map Trump had presented him. He was not alone. Trump himself used the T-word about a dozen times in the later meeting. Starmer thanked the president four times. And NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called Trump 'amazing.' ▶ Read more about how world leaders approach Trump Air Force's top uniformed officer will depart The Air Force's top uniformed officer is set to retire early in the most recent shakeup of military leadership during Trump's second term. An Air Force announcement Monday said Gen. David Allvin will continue as the service's chief of staff until the Senate confirms a replacement. It says Allvin expects to retire around Nov. 1, two years into his four-year term. Allvin, an appointee of President Joe Biden, has served since November 2023. Many Republicans doubt mail voting — but it also helped elect Trump Trump's push to do away with voting by mail will likely find support among Republican voters who doubt its reliability, but it could impact candidates in Trump's GOP: About 2 in 10 Trump voters in the 2024 presidential election cast a mail-in ballot, according to AP VoteCast. Republican voters were less confident in the accuracy of mailed ballots than independents and Democratic voters ahead of the 2024 election, according to AP-NORC polling from October. Only about 1 in 10 Republican voters were 'extremely' or 'very' confident that ballots mailed using a drop box or via the U.S. Postal Service would be counted accurately. About one-quarter of independents and roughly 6 in 10 Democrats were confident in their accuracy. JD Vance to Georgia this week to tout GOP tax law The vice president is traveling to Georgia on Thursday to continue his nationwide tour promoting the new Republican tax law. Vance will be in the Atlanta suburb of Peachtree City, where his office says he'll 'highlight President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill and the historic tax cuts it delivered for working class American families.' Vance has already gone to Ohio and Pennsylvania to talk up the law, which preserved existing tax rates for individual earners while offering temporary tax breaks for tips and overtime. Georgia will have one of the most hotly-contested Senate races in the 2026 midterms as first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff runs for reelection in a state Trump won in 2024. Trump offers 'my assurance' US troops won't be sent to Ukraine Trump has said the U.S. will help the European effort to provide Ukraine the security guarantees it seeks to prevent Russia from invading again after the war ends. On Monday, he did not rule out sending U.S. troops to join any such effort. But when asked during a TV interview on Tuesday to offer assurances that American troops won't be defending Ukraine's border going forward and after his administration ends, Trump said, 'Well, you have my assurance and I'm president.' The 'Trump slump?' Tourism is down sharply in Las Vegas Vegas resorts and convention centers are reporting 11% fewer visitors in June compared to last year, and 13% fewer international tourists. Hotel occupancy fell by about 15%, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Some officials are blaming Trump tariffs and immigration policies. Mayor Shelley Berkley said tourism from Canada — Nevada's largest international market — has dried from a torrent 'to a drip.' Ted Pappageorge, head of the powerful Culinary Workers Union, called it the 'Trump slump.' He said visits from Southern California, home to a large Latino population, were also drying up because people are afraid of the administration's immigration crackdown. 'If you if you tell the rest of the world they're not welcome, then they won't come,' he said. ▶ Read more about the Trump affect on tourism in the U.S. 'Coalition of the Willing' wants robust U.S. security for Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a virtual meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing' on Tuesday that there was 'a real sense of unity and shared goal of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine' at their White House meeting with Trump. Starmer and Macron also discussed how more sanctions and other pressure could be placed on Putin until he shows he's 'ready to take serious action to end his illegal invasion,' according to the the Downing Street statement. The U.K. Chief of Defense Staff, Adm. Tony Radakin, is travelling to Washington as teams from the coalition of more than 30 nations meet with U.S. counterparts to strengthen 'plans to deliver robust security guarantees and prepare for the deployment of a reassurance force if the hostilities ended,' the statement said. Putin's arrest warrant complicates a Zelenskyy meeting French President Emmanuel Macron said it could happen 'in Europe' and he's advocating for Geneva in Switzerland, although he said it could be another 'neutral' country. He noted in an interview with French television TF1-LCI broadcast Tuesday that Istanbul hosted the most recent bilateral discussions, in 2022. Meanwhile, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said his country would be prepared to organize such a summit, Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported. Asked about the complication posed by the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Putin, Cassis said 'the aim of receiving Mr. Putin in Switzerland without him being arrested is 100% achievable … of course, if he comes to Switzerland for the purposes of peace, for such a multilateral conference, not if he comes for private matters.' Cassis said arranging for Putin to avoid arrest would require 'a certain procedure,' but it could be done 'in a few days.' A call for speeding up Ukraine's membership in the European Union European Council President Antonio Costa called for 'Russia must immediately end the violence' in Ukraine after a virtual meeting of the 27 heads of state of the European Union's member nations. 'Our top priority must be to stop the killings — whether we call it a ceasefire or a truce is secondary,' Costa told reporters Tuesday. Economic pressure via sanctions should be maintained on Russia to end the war, and Ukraine's candidacy to join the EU should be accelerated, he said: 'Ukraine's future is not only about strong security guarantees and their finding a potential peace deal with Russia, but also about its European path. This is why we must move forward with the enlargement process.' Views from Ukraine: No illusions for sudden peace A Ukrainian political analyst says this Zelenskyy meeting with Trump 'went satisfactorily.' 'The task of this meeting was to prevent Trump from pressuring Ukraine with Russian demands. We managed to achieve that 100%. We managed to explain that the issue of territories is not just about land—it's about people. There can be no exchange,' Oleh Saakian said. 'For Ukraine, the meeting with Putin is important to show Trump whether Russia is really ready to end the war. It is important to demonstrate that Ukraine has done everything possible on its side,' Saakian said. 'I don't think anyone in Ukraine has the illusion that a meeting with Putin could suddenly bring peace. It's not as if at a meeting with Zelenskyy, Putin will suddenly say: 'Yes, I was mistaken, I confess, I withdraw the troops, I give back the territories.'' Trump says leaders of Russia and Ukraine unlikely to become 'best friends' Trump says Putin and Zelenskyy are getting along 'a little better than I thought,' noting the 'tremendous bad blood' between them. He said his perception of their relationship is why he's arranging for them to meet one-on-one soon, instead of a three-way meeting with himself as sort of a mediator. 'I think they're doing OK. I wouldn't say they are ever going to be best friends, but they're doing OK,' the president told Fox News Channel's 'Fox and Friends.' 'You know, they're the ones that have to call the shots,' Trump said. 'We're 7,000 miles away.' Trump says he didn't speak with Putin with European leaders in the room The president said he thought it would have been disrespectful to handle the phone call that way since Putin and the European leaders meeting with him at the White House haven't had the 'warmest relations.' But despite that, he said during an interview on Fox News Channel's 'Fox and Friends' that he has managed to maintain a 'very good relationship' with Putin. Trump was holding talks at the White House on Monday with Zelenskyy and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Union and NATO on ending Russia's war on Ukraine. Trump says admitting Ukraine into NATO and the return of Crimea are 'impossible' The president, in a morning interview on 'Fox & Friends,' said that he's optimistic a deal can be made to bring an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But Trump underscored that Ukraine will have to set aside both its hope of a returned Crimea, which Russia seized by force in 2014, and its aspirations to join the NATO military alliance. 'Both of those things are impossible,' Trump said. Putin, as part of any potential deal, is looking for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. Judge dismisses part of 'Alligator Alcatraz' lawsuit, changes venue A federal judge in Miami dismissed part of a lawsuit over the legal rights of detainees at the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center and moved the case to a different jurisdiction. U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz's 47-page ruling late Monday says claims the detainees lack confidential access to their lawyers or to immigration hearings were rendered moot when the Trump administration recently designated the Krome North Processing Center near Miami as a site for their cases to be heard. The judge heard arguments from both sides in a hearing earlier Monday in Miami. Civil rights attorneys were seeking a preliminary injunction to ensure detainees at the facility have access to their lawyers and can get a hearing. The state and federal government had argued that even though the isolated airstrip where the facility is located is owned by Miami-Dade County, Florida's southern district was the wrong venue since the detention center is located in neighboring Collier County, which is in the state's middle district. The defendants made an identical argument last week about jurisdiction for a second lawsuit in which environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe sued to stop further construction and operations at the Everglades detention center until it's in compliance with federal environmental laws. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami ordered a 14-day halt on additional construction and said she plans to rule before the order expires this week. ▶ Read more about the lawsuit over the detention center Zelenskyy says meeting with Putin should be held 'without any conditions' Zelenskyy says that if he starts to set conditions for the meeting, regarding a potential ceasefire or other matters, then Russia will want to set conditions, too, potentially jeopardizing those talks. 'That's why I believe that we must meet without any conditions,' he told reporters. Zelenskyy said Trump showed him a map of the Ukraine front lines in the Oval Office and they got into a little debate about territories it showed. But they didn't argue, he said. 'We had a truly warm, good and substantial conversation,' Zelenskyy said. NATO leader says 'Article 5 kind of security guarantees' will be discussed in coming days NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says Trump agreed that the United States would contribute to Ukraine's security following a peace deal, a development he called 'a breakthrough.' Membership in NATO is not on the table, but the U.S. and European leaders are discussing 'Article 5 kind of security guarantees for Ukraine,' Rutte said in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Article 5 of the NATO treaty says an attack on one member nation is an attack on all members, the heart of the transatlantic defense compact. Details around U.S. involvement in Ukraine 'will be discussed over the coming days,' which will give Zelenskyy the clarity he needs to decide whether Ukrainians can remain safe following a peace deal. 'It is important to also know what the situation will be with the security guarantees to prevent Vladimir Putin from ever, ever trying again to invade parts of Ukraine,' Rutte said. The possibility of U.S. troops in Ukraine was not discussed Monday, he said. DC told of intent to arm National Guard troops Washington has been informed about the intent for the National Guard to be armed, though it has not received details about when that could happen or where armed Guard members could be deployed in D.C., according to a person familiar who was not authorized to disclose the plans and spoke on condition of anonymity. It would be a departure from what the Pentagon and Army have said about the troops being unarmed. The Army said in a statement last week that 'weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory.' Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson also said last week that troops won't be armed. In response to questions about whether Guard members in Washington would be armed in the coming days, the District of Columbia National Guard said troops 'may be armed consistent with their mission and training.' Maj. Melissa Heintz, a spokesperson for the D.C. Guard, didn't provide more details and said 'their presence is focused on supporting civil authorities and ensuring the safety of the community they serve.' ___
Reuters
a minute ago
- Reuters
Trump administration to seek federal charges against people snared in DC crackdown, sources say
WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration this week ordered federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., to be more aggressive in pursuing criminal cases against people arrested as part of a crackdown in the nation's capital, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move marks an escalation of Trump's push against what he has described as a wave of crime and homelessness in Washington, in which the Republican president has already called up hundreds of National Guard troops and temporarily taken over the Democratic-led city's police department. The head of the criminal division of the Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney's office, Jonathan Hornok, on Monday told prosecutors to charge as many federal cases as possible against people arrested in the sweeps, a move that could both strain the court system and raise the stakes for criminal defendants because convictions for federal crimes can carry weighty sentences, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal department matters. While many of the U.S. federal prosecutors in that office focus on higher-level offenses such as terrorism and fraud, the Washington office plays a dual role in prosecuting both federal and local crimes. In a post on X on Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that since Trump's takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department began, there have been 465 arrests made for a variety of offenses, including homicide, narcotics, and firearm offenses. It was not clear how many of these could be eligible for federal charges. "In line with President Trump's directive to make D.C. safe, U.S. Attorney (Jeanine) Pirro has made it clear that the old way of doing things is unacceptable. She directed her staff to charge the highest crime that is supported by the law and the evidence," a spokesperson for Pirro's office said on Tuesday. Dozens of prosecutors have voluntarily left the Washington U.S. Attorney's office since Trump took office in January, while others have been fired. The orders could place additional stress on federal law enforcement agents including those from the FBI who are already stretched thin because they have been ordered to participate in nightly rotational shifts to patrol the capital's streets. That could leave them less time and resources to help do the follow-up investigations that will be required to support criminal charges, such as interviewing witnesses, canvassing for CCTV footage or following up to obtain DNA evidence, which is often required to win a conviction in D.C. for unlawful firearm possession cases. The U.S. Attorney's office is planning to bring in about 20 people from the Department of Defense on Monday to serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys to help prosecute the misdemeanor cases, a spokesperson confirmed.
