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1 President Biden Says He Won't Pardon Hunter If He's Convicted
In an interview with ABC News, President Joe Biden stated he would accept the jury's decision in his son Hunter Biden's criminal trial and would not pardon him if convicted. Speaking from Normandy during a D-Day commemoration, Biden confirmed he would not use his presidential power to intervene in Hunter's case, who faces three federal gun-related charges. The White House had previously indicated Biden would not pardon his son, who also faces a separate trial for tax charges in September. Biden expressed his unwavering support for Hunter, emphasizing his love and confidence in his son's strength. First Lady Jill Biden and other family members have attended the trial. In the same interview, Biden criticized former President Donald Trump for not accepting his own recent conviction, accusing Trump of trying to undermine the rule of law. "He got a fair trial. The jury spoke," Biden remarked.
2 Russian Warships Arriving In Havana Next Week
Next week, four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will dock in Havana, Cuba, highlighting the "historically friendly relations" between the two countries amid rising tensions over Western support for Ukraine. The Cuban foreign ministry assured the ships, arriving between June 12th and June 17th, won’t carry nuclear weapons and pose no threat to the region. This announcement follows US reports of Russian warships and aircraft heading to the Caribbean for military exercises, seen as a response to U.S. support for Ukraine. US officials note the Russian presence is significant but not alarming, though they’ll monitor the exercises closely.
3 Judge Dismisses Some Charges Against Paul Pelosi's Attacker
A judge dismissed several state charges against David DePape yesterday citing double jeopardy. DePape was found guilty of assaulting a federal official's family member and attempting to kidnap a federal official, receiving a 30-year federal prison sentence. He is expected to be deported to Canada after serving his time. Despite the federal conviction, state prosecutors pursued additional charges against DePape for attacking Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a hammer in 2022. However, DePape's public defenders argues the state trial constituted double jeopardy since the charges stemmed from the same incident. The judge agreed, dismissing the state charges of attempted murder, elder abuse, and assault with a deadly weapon, but DePape still faces other state charges, including false imprisonment and aggravated kidnapping.