Susan Rice to leave role as White House domestic policy chief

This post was originally published on this siteRice, 58, formerly served as national security advisor and ambassador to the United Nations under President Obama.

Peru ex-president extradited from U.S., taken to prison

Peru’s former president Alejandro Toledo was jailed on Sunday, hours after arriving back in his homeland following extradition from the United States to face charges of money laundering and corruption during his mandate.The 77-year-old, who served as Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006, was flown in the evening by helicopter to the Barbadillo prison, journalists witnessed.Toledo is wanted by Peruvian prosecutors investigating a sprawling scandal involving Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht.He is accused of having received millions of dollars from Odebrecht in return for public works contracts, and prosecutors are asking that he be sentenced to more than 20 years in jail.Toledo arrived in Lima from Los Angeles in the custody of Interpol officers, who handed him over to local law enforcement, television images showed.The former president, wearing a red sweater, appeared before a judge and gave his name, age and national identity number, the judiciary tweeted along with a series of photos.Toledo had been living in the United States for several years before surrendering Friday at a federal court building in San Jose, California, where he was handed over to the US Marshals Service.Prison for ex-leadersToledo is due to remain in detention while awaiting trial in 18 months.The Barbadillo prison where Toledo was sent also houses fellow former presidents Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) and Pedro Castillo (2021-22).Castillo was ousted and arrested last December shortly after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.His arrest sparked months of street protests which left dozens dead and disrupted the countries lucrative tourism industry.Toledo’s lawyer, Roberto Su, told journalists in Lima that his client “has many pains” and is suffering from “cancer.” He did not offer more details.Toledo has denied the allegations against him and had filed several petitions to contest his extradition, which Peru had sought since 2018.He was first detained in 2019 and then placed under house arrest a year later and ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor.Peruvian prosecutors say they have testimony from two people who claim Toledo received bribes from Odebrecht.They are Josef Maiman, a businessman who said he used his companies to divert illicit payments from Odebrecht, and Jorge Barata, a former agent for Odebrecht in Peru.The firm has acknowledged paying bribes in Brazil and several other Latin America nations in the so-called Car Wash scandal, which has seen dozens of politicians and business figures behind bars.Four other former Peruvian presidents currently face corruption investigations. They are Ollanta Humala (president from 2011 to 2016), Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-18), Martin Vizcarra (2018-20) and Castillo.Fujimori is serving a prison sentence for human rights abuses but was also convicted of corruption.Another former president, Alan Garcia, died by suicide in 2019 as police were preparing to arrest him in the Odebrecht case.© 2023 AFP

Biden expected to name Julie Rodriguez as 2024 campaign manager

This post was originally published on this sitePresident Biden is expected to name senior White House official Julie Chavez Rodriguez to manage his reelection campaign, according to multiple reports, as he gears up to launch a 2024 campaign as early as this week. Rodriguez, who is senior advisor and assistant to the president and director […]

McCarthy faces moment of truth in debt limit battle

This post was originally published on this siteSpeaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will face a moment of truth in the debt ceiling battle this week when he brings a bill to lift the borrowing limit to the floor — legislation that some Republicans have concerns with, threatening the measure’s chances of clearing the chamber. The bill — which […]

Texas shooting: Nine teenagers shot at prom after-party

Gunfire brought an abrupt end to an after-party for secondary school prom-goers in east Texas.

Ron DeSantis meets Japan’s prime minister during a four-nation trade mission

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo as part of his four-nation trade mission. The tour, which also includes stops in South Korea, Israel and the U.K., is seen as an attempt to raise his diplomatic profile.

What The Fox News-Dominion Settlement Means For Smartmatic’s $2.7 Billion Lawsuit

Despite its $787.5 million defamation deal with Dominion this week, the right-wing network faces another legal challenge involving 2020 election lies.

Conservative radio host Larry Elder launches Republican bid for president

This post was originally published on this siteElder finished atop a field of challengers to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in a 2021 recall election, but voters chose to stick with the incumbent rather than replace him.

Judge Who Ruled Against Abortion Pill Didn’t Disclose Christian Radio Appearances: CNN

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk was required to submit a lengthy report on all of his writings and appearances during his confirmation.

Pentagon prepping for potential evacuation of US embassy staff from Sudan

This post was originally published on this siteThe U.S. is putting troops in place over the potential to evacuate American embassy personnel sheltering in place in Khartoum, amid days of intense fighting between opposing Sudanese military forces in the country’s capital, the Biden administration confirmed Thursday. U.S. Africa Command “is monitoring the situation in Sudan […]

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