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Added on the 23/06/2016 21:21:28 - Copyright : Reuters EN
In the critical runoff election in Georgia, Democrat Jon Ossoff is vying to oust the incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue. Now, Business Insider reports Ossoff has become the highest-funded candidate for Senate in US history. The Federal Election Commission says Ossoff raised $106.7 million between October 15 and December 16. The Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock is running against GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler. He raised $103.3 million during the same time. The race has drawn national attention because the victors will determine whether Republicans maintain control of the Senate.
Business Insider is reporting that President Donald Trump has pardoned his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. Manafort was investigated by Robert Mueller during his probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election. Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax and bank fraud. Manafort also later pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and another count of obstruction. A federal judge voided the plea deal after finding that he lied to prosecutors after agreeing to cooperate. Manafort was sentenced last year to 7 1/2 years in prison for his crimes. The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that he represents a "grave counterintelligence threat" to the US.
President-elect Joe Biden's so, Hunter Biden, is being investigated by the federal government. Biden has not selected his pick for Attorney General. However, Business Insider reports that he will not ask candidates for the position about their plans surrounding any investigations into his son. AG Bill Barr leaves the White House this week. He will be replaced for the remainder of Trump's term by Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. AP reports Trump has floated the idea of firing Rosen should he refuse to appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden.
US Attorney General William Barr did not want the Department of Justice to reveal it was investigating Hunter Biden before the 2020 presidential election. According to Business Insider, Barr went to great lengths to prevent prosecutors and senior DOJ officials from disclosing it was probing Hunter Biden's taxes. There were at least two separate investigations into Biden's finances, one in the Delaware US attorney's office and another in the Manhattan US attorney's office. The latter initially started off as a money-laundering probe but has since fizzled out because of a lack of evidence. The revelation by the Wall Street Journal adds to a growing list of frustrations President Donald Trump has with Barr. In fact, it may be the final straw for Trump, who may fire the attorney general weeks before leaving office.
At a rally in Florida Friday night, President Donald Trump mixed up the names of a Florida representative and a former campaign aide. Specifically, Trump confused Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz with Rick Gates, who was convicted for crimes related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. According to Business Insider, Gaetz has been one of Trump's most vocal supporters. The president repeatedly pointed at Rep. Gaetz during the rally, all the while addressing him as 'Rick Gates' or 'Rick.' Rick Gates was not present at the rally.