Trump due to be arraigned:Â Donald Trump is due in federal court in Washington, D.C. tomorrow to be booked and arraigned on the indictment that was returned yesterday by a grand jury that heard evidence from Special Counsel Jack Smith. Trump is charged with four felonies in connection with his efforts to steal the 2020 Presidential Election after having lost to Joe Biden. Six of Trump’s alleged co-conspirators are described but they are not named in the indictment or charged. The indictment provides details of how Trump is alleged to have continued spreading lies to his followers and trying to stay in the presidency even after having been told numerous times by his loyal advisors, campaign mangers and other Republicans that he had lost the election and there was no fraud.
Pence says Trump should never be president:Â Donald Trump’s Former Vice President Mike Pence said in a statement last night, “Today”™s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.” Pence added, “Our constitution is more important than any one man”™s career.” During the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Trump put out a message denouncing Pence for not cooperating in his plot to block Congress from counting the electoral college votes that made Biden the new president.
Pope arrives in Lisbon:Â Pope Francis arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, today for a five-day visit centered around World Youth Day. He urged young people to work together to build a better future in view of the various problems facing the world. Pope Francis said European leaders need to build bridges of peace, fraternity and inclusion.
Jackpot grows:Â No one won the $1.1 billion jackpot in last night’s Mega Millions drawing, so the jackpot now stands at $1.25 billion. No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since April 18. The estimated odds of winning the top prize are 302.1 million to one.
Fitch downgrades U.S.:Â The financial rating agency Fitch Ratings has downgraded its long-term foreign currency issuer default rating of the U.S. from triple-A to double-A plus. Fitch cited the country’s growing debt burden and political fights over increasing the debt ceiling as cause for concern about future fiscal management. Fitch expressed concern over weakening business investment.
Russia hits Ukraine port:Â Russian drones today attacked a Ukrainian port city on the Danube River at Ukraine’s border with Romania. Shipping facilities in the port of Izmail were hit. Since pulling out of the deal that allowed Ukrainian grain and other exports to be shipped, Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s port cities.
