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Wednesday, September 20, 2023

9/20 WAKE-UP CALL: Hunter Expected To Plead 'Not Guilty'

Hunter Biden plans to plead not guilty to federal gun charges and is asking his initial court appearance be held by video conference so that he won't have to travel to Wilmington, Delaware, a request that the government opposed. U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke asked both sides to file written arguments about a video hearing. The government is scheduled to respond Wednesday. The initial hearing hasn't been scheduled yet. Congressional Republicans have attacked the charges against Biden and the handling of his investigation as a "sweetheart deal" because his father is President Joe Biden. Being treated differently from typical defendants for a court appearance could also raise complaints of favoritism by David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who was appointed special counsel.

➤U-N URGED TO CONFRONT AGGRESSION: President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on their counterparts to defend the idea that powerful nations can’t seize territory from their neighbors, part of a broad appeal aimed at isolating Russia on the world stage. In an address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Biden said if the U.N. abandoned its principles “to appease an aggressor, can any member state in this body feel confident that they’re protected?” 

“If you allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?” he asked. “I’d respectfully suggest the answer is no. We have to stand up to this naked aggression today and deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.” Speaking hours later in his trademark olive shirt, the Ukrainian president accused Russia of using food and energy as a weapon in ways that hurt the countries represented in New York this week. “This is a real chance for every nation to ensure that aggression against your state—if it happens, God forbid—will end,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russian aggression, no one in the world will dare to attack any nation.”

➤ANXIETY RIPPLES THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVER BIDEN: A growing number of polls are showing voters concerned about President Joe Biden’s age and energy. Democratic lawmakers have hesitated to offer full-throated endorsements of his running mate. Prominent commentators have ruminated on whether he should drop out of the presidential race. This series of political vulnerabilities, along with House Republicans announcing an impeachment inquiry and the Justice Department indicting Biden’s son on gun charges, is now sending waves of anxiety through parts of the Democratic Party, as some fret about whether the man who helped oust Donald Trump from the White House may not have the vitality, at 80, to successfully prevent a return.

“He is in a period of his life where passing and death is imminent,” said Sharon Sweda, the leader of the Democratic Party in Lorain County in Ohio, who said she often hears from voters worried about the president’s potential frailty. “We are all on a ticking clock. But when you’re at his age or at Trump’s age, that clock is ticking a little faster, and that’s a concern for voters.” According to MSN, many in the party continue to voice confidence in Biden, and they note that Trump himself is not much younger at 77. But Biden’s allies are frustrated by the hand-wringing from an anxious faction of the party, and even as campaign officials point to the president’s record of defying skeptics, they are strategizing internally about how to best combat the unmistakable nervousness.

Other polls are also flashing warning signs for Democrats. A CNN/SSRS survey found that Biden’s approval rating was mired at 39 percent, with nearly three-quarters of respondents saying they were concerned about his age. The poll also found that most Democrats want the party to nominate a different presidential candidate.

➤NYC MAYOR LASHES OUT AT PRESIDENT: Eric Adams has lashed out at Joe Biden for snubbing him during his visit to the city - pointedly saying the president 'knows where I am.' Biden arrived in New York City on Sunday night for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. He will remain in the city until Wednesday, but is not expected to meet the mayor - who has been strongly critical of his handling of the migrant crisis. Adams has frequently demanded Biden do more to stem the flow of arrivals - with more than 113,000 arriving in the city since spring 2022. He has been tearing into the migrant crisis crippling NYC - which he warned will 'destroy' the city without urgent action. Adams, the mayor of the largest city in the U.S., has admitted that he and Biden, both Democrats, have not spoken since the beginning of the year. 'President Biden's coming to the city,' said Adams on Tuesday, speaking at an event designed to improve New York's trash collection and reduce the rat population. 'I am hoping that he understands this beautiful city that's the economic engine of the entire country is been saddled with a $2 billion that we spent already, $5 billion we're going to spend in this fiscal crisis, $12 billion in the next two budgetary cycles.

➤2 CHARGED IN RUN-DOWN DEATH OF FORMER POLICE CHIEF: The teen car passenger who filmed himself encouraging his friend to mow down a retired police officer riding his bike through Las Vegas was arrested Tuesday, officials announced. The unidentified minor and the teen driver — who was already in custody — are both facing murder charges in the disturbing hit-and-run death of 64-year-old Andreas Probst last month, Las Vegas officials said at a press conference.

“It’s a complete lack of conscience on a part of it and the worst part about it in the video is you hear that everything was intentional,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Detective Lieutenant Jason Johansen said. Police say the passenger filmed the gut-wrenching video showing that Probst was deliberately struck and left for dead while he was on his morning bike ride around 6 a.m. on Aug. 14. The driver can be heard asking his giggling friend “ready?” as he speeds up directly behind the retired cop. “Yeah, hit his ass,” the passenger tells the driver before plowing into the retiree. Probst was thrown onto the windshield, sending shards of glass through the car, and over the car before crashing onto the side of the road.


➤KILLER AT LARGE AFTER ADULT COUPLE, 2 CHILDREN AND 3 DOGS FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN ILLINOIS HOME:  Authorities are still searching for a killer who remains at large and is believed to be responsible for fatally shooting a couple, their two children and three dogs. The victims were all found dead in a suburban Chicago home on Sunday. Romeoville Police Department Deputy Chief Chris Burne said officers found the bodies, each with gunshot wounds, about 8:40 p.m. in Romeoville. The victims were believed to have been shot between Saturday night and early Sunday, Burne said. Police identified the adults as Alberto Rolon and Zoraida Bartolomei but did not disclose the names of the children.

➤CONVICTED MURDERER KILLED BY CELLMATE: A man convicted of two murders and accused of killing over 20 elderly women was killed by his cellmate Tuesday morning, officials confirmed. Billy Chemirmir, 50, who was serving a life sentence without parole for the murders, was discovered dead in his cell early in the morning, according to Amanda Hernandez, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. His cellmate is also serving a life sentence for murder, Hernandez said in a statement to USA TODAY. The cellmate was not identified and Chemirmir's cause of death wasn't revealed.

➤JAN6 FIGURE FACING CHARGE: James Ray Epps, the subject of relentless conspiracy theories by the far-right, is facing a criminal misdemeanor charge for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Epps, an Arizona man, is facing one count of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, according to a charging document filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18.

➤ACTING TEMPLE PRESIDENT COLLAPSES AND DIES DURING EVENT: JoAnne E. Epps, the acting president of Temple University in Philadelphia, has died after falling ill on stage at a memorial service Tuesday afternoon, the school announced. Epps, 72, had collapsed while attending a memorial service on the campus and was transported to Temple University Hospital, according to the university. She was pronounced dead around 3:15 p.m.

➤CONFRONTATION IN NFL STANDS LEADS TO DEATH: Horrifying new footage shows the moment a New England Patriots fan leapt into the stands to confront a Miami Dolphins supporter just before he was thumped in the side of his head, collapsed and died. Dale Mooney, 53, passed away after he approached a group of Dolphins fans that his friends said 'verbally taunted' him and later punched him on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium. It all happened in the 300-tier section of the stadium when something prompted Mooney to run from the aisle into the seats and tussle with the other fans. In the video, he is seen inserting himself into the crowd of people as some tried to break it up and others distanced themselves. As he shoved his way through, the brawl broke out as Mooney's Patriots hat fell off just before he was smacked in the temple and collapsed to the ground.

⚾MLB BRAVES 9 PHILLIES 3: Spencer Strider struck out 11 batters and Ronald Acuna Jr. hit two home runs to help the Atlanta Braves end their four-game losing streak with a 9-3 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Atlanta (97-54) avoided what would have been its first five-game losing streak since September 2017. Philadelphia (82-69) dropped to 4-8 against the Braves this season. Strider (18-5) pitched seven innings and allowed three runs -- all coming on Bryce Harper's 19th home run in the sixth -- on four hits and no walks. He improved his career record against Philadelphia to 8-0 with a 1.90 ERA.

⚾MLB BREWERS 7 CARDINALS 3:  Tyrone Taylor drove in one run and scored twice to lead the visiting Milwaukee Brewers past the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 on Tuesday. Taylor hit a double, drew two walks and stole a base for the Brewers (85-66), who reduced their magic number to win the National League Central to six. William Contreras hit a homer and scored twice for the Brewers while Richie Palacios hit a home run for the Cardinals (67-84).

⚾MLB SCORES:

  • Rays 6 Angels 2
  • Blue Jays 7 Yankees 1
  • Twins 7 Reds 0
  • Marlins 4 Mets 3
  • Royals 7 Guardians 6
  • Cubs 14 Pirates 1
  • Rangers 6 Red Sox 4
  • Orioles 9 Astros 5
  • Mariners 7 Athletics 2
  • Padres 2 Rockies 0
  • D-Backs 8 Giants 4
  • Dodgers 3 Tigers 2


⚾OHTANI HAS ELBOW SURGERY, EXPECTS TO HIT IN '24, PITCH IN '25: Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani had elbow surgery Tuesday, and his doctor said he expects the two-way star will be available as a hitter on Opening Day next season and will return to the mound as a pitcher in 2025. Ohtani tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Aug. 23, ending his pitching season. He continued as a batter through Sept. 3 until an oblique strain.

🏈DEION SANDERS CONDEMNS DEATH THREATS: Colorado coach Deion Sanders condemned the recent death threats against Henry Blackburn in the wake of the Colorado State defensive back's illegal hit Saturday on Buffaloes star Travis Hunter.

"Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game," Sanders said Tuesday. "He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty, you could call it, 'He was just playing the game of football.' But whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.

🏈BROWNS JEROME FORD TO BE NO, 1 RB AFTER NICK CHUBB INJURY: Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Jerome Ford is now Cleveland's featured running back in the wake of the season-ending injury to Nick Chubb. The All-Pro rusher injured his left knee in the second quarter of Monday night's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chubb had to be carted off the field. Stefanski declined to specify Chubb's injury but did say that Chubb would require surgery.

🏈PANTHERS' SHAQ THOMPSON EXPECTED TO MISS REMAINDER OF SEASON: Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery Tuesday morning to repair a broken fibula. "It's hard to put that into words," Panthers coach Frank Reich said when asked what he'll miss most about not having his veteran leader. "We talk about a brotherhood -- he is just a close brother. This is a warrior. This is a guy who knows how to practice, he knows how to play, he's a team-first player.



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