1 Senate Confirms Todd Blanche As Attorney General
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Trump's former personal defense lawyer, as the nation's next attorney general in an early Saturday vote by a narrow 50 to 49 margin. Two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined all Democrats in voting no. With those defections and Senator Mitch McConnell absent, the deciding vote came from Republican Bill Cassidy, who announced his support the day before. Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi was removed from the role in April. Some senators objected to a Justice Department settlement Trump reached with the IRS in May, which created a 1.8 billion dollar fund to pay people who claimed the government wronged them, and which also gave Trump and his family broad protection from tax audits. Two key Republicans, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, held out until Blanche agreed to formally cancel the fund.
2 President Announces Staff Secretary Taking Over As White House Counsel
President Trump announced yesterday that his new White House counsel will be Will Scharf, currently the staff secretary. Starting September 1st, Scharf will replace David Warrington, who is leaving the administration for the private sector. Scharf is a former federal prosecutor who represented Trump in several cases, including a Supreme Court fight over presidential immunity. He also recently helped secure approval for a 400 million dollar White House ballroom project as head of a planning commission. Trump praised him as tough, strong, and smart. The White House counsel advises the president on legal matters, handles pardons, and works on judicial appointments. The shakeup comes months before the midterm elections.
3 Boat Captain Arrested After Woman And Five-Month-Old Baby Die After Boat Capsizes Near Statue of Liberty
A woman and her 5-month-old daughter were killed when a boat carrying 14 people capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor on Saturday night. Police identified the victims as 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her baby, Antonella Garcia. Both were pulled from the water by police divers and later pronounced dead, while the other 12 passengers were rescued with minor injuries. The boat's captain, 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez, was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The Coast Guard is investigating what caused the boat to flip and whether it was operating illegally as an uncredentialed charter without proper safety equipment.