8.4.2023

Trump Arraigned in DC

Former President Donald Trump appeared in a Washington, DC, court yesterday, pleading not guilty to charges that he knowingly attempted to alter the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. 

The Tuesday indictment marked the third set of open charges against Trump (see previous write-up)—the other two cases relate to allegations of mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and supposed hush money payments during the 2016 campaign. The primary charge in the current case alleges Trump and allies tried to overturn results from seven states: Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Legal experts have noted the case will require proving Trump was aware the claims being made were false (as opposed to acting on earnest beliefs).

Separately, GOP lawmakers released the transcript of a closed-door hearing with Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden. Republicans and Democrats have alternately claimed his testimony showed President Joe Biden's involvement in his son's foreign business dealings or that Hunter Biden was selling an "illusion" of access. 

Knockout Round Begins

The Women's World Cup moves into the single elimination knockout stage tomorrow, following a handful of surprise eliminations in group play. Two-time champion Germany, who entered ranked No. 2 in international competition, was bounced from the tournament after a 1-1 draw with South Korea. Separately, Brazil failed to advance from group play for the first time since 1995 after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica. 

Despite sluggish performances in their last two games, the US national team made it to the next round (dodging a near miss in the final minutes against Portugal). Though the team entered with a number of new faces, the US started as the top-ranked team in the world and the favorites to win their third straight cup. 

Oddsmakers peg the Americans as the second-most likely to finish on top, behind England. The US plays its next match early Sunday morning against Sweden (5 am ET, FOX); see a preview here.

South Korea Stabbings 

An attack just south of Seoul, South Korea, yesterday left at least 14 people injured after a man rammed a car into pedestrians before launching a stabbing spree. The attack occurred Thursday at 5:55 pm local time in the city of Seongnam near a subway station and a large department store.

The suspect, a 23-year-old man, acted alone during the rampage and was arrested at the scene; the police did not provide a motive. Authorities described the attack as "virtually an act of terrorism," as the attack appeared to be done at random. Five individuals were hit by the vehicle, and nine others were stabbed; two were in serious condition as of this writing.

The attack is the second mass stabbing in the country this summer, following an attack in the South Korean capital of Seoul in July that killed one person and left three wounded. The country has a relatively low homicide and attempted homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people. For comparison, the US homicide rate is 7.8 per 100,000.

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