#1: Ghislaine Maxwell:
Federal prosecutors are recommending that convicted sex trafficker, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell be sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison and up to 55 years for her “instrumental role (with financier Jeffrey Epstein) in the horrific sexual abuse of multiple young teenage girls,” according to a sentencing memo filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Maxwell, 60, was convicted in December 2020 of five federal sex trafficking charges related to her participation in recruitment and preparing young girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Epstein was convicted in 2008 for engaging in child prostitution. He committed suicide in 2019 at a NYC correctional facility where he was being held on federal sex-trafficking charges.
#2: January 6 Hearings Continue:
The January 6 committee is holding its fifth hearing today, Thursday at 3pm, live on all major news networks. It will focus on former President Trump’s efforts to get Justice Department officials to go along with his plan to overturn the 2020 election and back up his false election fraud claims. Three former senior Justice Department officials who refused to cooperate with Trump’s plan will be testifying live today: Jeffrey Rosen, the acting attorney general; Richard Donoghue, the acting deputy attorney general; and Steven Engel, who led the department’s Office of Legal Counsel. They all were present at the Oval Office meeting on January 3, where there was discussion about replacing Rosen with Jeffrey Clark, an environmental official who was more likely to support the voter fraud scheme and encourage states to decertify Joe BIden’s win.
#3: Rapper Lil TJay shot in NJ:
Rapper Lil TJay, 21 (real name Tione Marriot), who has over 7 million followers on Instagram and more than 17 million listeners on Spotify, was shot multiple times, and a companion was also shot, after an attempted armed robbery in New Jersey on Wednesday. Both victims were transported to a local hospital, where Lil TJay underwent emergency surgery. A suspect, Mohamed Konate, 27, of New York was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
#4: Oath Keepers Defense Allegedly Related to Trump Lawyer:
Justice Department prosecutors are investigating whether lawyer Sidney Powell, who participated in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is funding the right-wing Oath Keepers group members’ legal fees, while members undergo investigation for their role in the January 6 Capitol attack. The Justice Department alleges that the Oath Keepers’ leader, Stewart Rhodes, and other members, are receiving assistance from a company called “Defending the Republic,” which is controlled by Sidney Powell. Prosecutors said that if the payments are proven, it could be a violation of professional conduct rules.
#5: Fed Chairman Powell and Inflation:
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell appeared in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday. He reassured the public that the US economy is “very strong” as the central bank tightens its monetary policy in efforts to deal with the worst inflation since the 1980s. Powell previously had stated that inflation was temporary and related to the pandemic, but acknowledged on Wednesday that gasoline and food prices are not likely to come down, even with the Fed’s efforts; interest rates were raised in May.
