That’s it from me at present. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the weblog for the following few hours.
Right here’s the place the day stands to this point:
One among Andrew Cuomo’s accusers referred to as for his impeachment, after an investigation concluded the New York governor had sexually harassed not less than 11 ladies. Charlotte Bennett, a former Cuomo aide whose allegations have been substantiated by investigators, stated the state Meeting ought to transfer as shortly as attainable to question the governor. “We’ve a report. We’ve the details,” Bennett advised CBS Information. “And if he’s not prepared to step down, then we have now a duty to behave and impeach him.”
A majority of New York state Meeting members assist beginning impeachment proceedings towards Cuomo if he refuses to resign, in response to a depend performed by the AP. A easy majority of members is required to begin an impeachment trial, and it will then take a two-thirds majority of state senators and appeals court docket judges to convict Cuomo and take away him from workplace.
Almost 6 in 10 New Yorkers imagine Cuomo ought to resign, in response to a brand new ballot. The Marist ballot discovered that 59% of New Yorkers, together with 52% of registered Democrats, say Cuomo ought to step down. An equivalent variety of New Yorkers, 59%, assist the state Meeting impeaching Cuomo if he refuses to resign.
Three extra native New York prosecutors are requesting to see the proof towards Cuomo. The district attorneys of Manhattan, Westchester and Nassau counties are in touch with New York lawyer basic Letitia James’ workplaceabout acquiring the information gathered by investigators. The district lawyer of Albany county has already stated there’s an ongoing legal investigation into Cuomo’s conduct.
The World Well being Group is looking for a moratorium on coronavirus vaccine boosters via the tip of subsequent month. The WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, argued the moratorium was mandatory “to allow not less than 10% of the inhabitants of each nation to be vaccinated” earlier than boosters added extra stress on international vaccine provide.
Maanvi could have extra developing, so keep tuned.
16:43
Amanda Holpuch
Advocates for ladies and survivors of sexual assault and harassment referred to as for New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s instant resignation after a state investigation launched on Tuesday stated he sexually harassed 11 ladies.
The investigation discovered that Cuomo’s administration created a “local weather of concern” on the office and violated federal and state civil legal guidelines. Cuomo has denied the allegations and on Tuesday appeared to withstand calls to step down.
The 165-page report from the New York lawyer basic, Letitia James, will doubtless play an important function within the state meeting’s impeachment inquiry. Advocates stated they supported the inquiry however hoped for swifter motion.
The leaders of me too. Worldwide, stated that Cuomo’s continued denial of the allegations “is unacceptable and robs survivors of the justice they deserve” and referred to as for the governor’s resignation.
“This second is bigger than Governor Cuomo,” the group’s govt director, Tarana Burke, and CEO, Dani Ayers, stated in an announcement. “It’s in regards to the tradition of impunity that leaders like him depend on after they’ve dedicated hurt. That is about disrupting poisonous work environments that keep dominance, concern and management on the expense of security, company and consent.”
Learn the complete report:
16:20
Majority of NY Meeting members assist impeaching Cuomo if he would not resign – report
A majority of members within the New York state Meeting assist beginning impeachment proceedings towards governor Andrew Cuomo if he continues to refuse to resign, an AP depend discovered.
The AP reviews:
A minimum of 82 of the physique’s 150 members have stated publicly or advised The AP that they favored initiating the method of ousting the third-term Democratic governor if he doesn’t stop. A easy majority of Meeting members is required to authorize an impeachment trial. …
Meeting Democrats, who lead the chamber, debated nearly for hours Tuesday about whether or not to question the governor now, wait to see whether or not he resigns, or give the Meeting Judiciary Committee time to wrap up its wide-ranging investigation into subjects from sexual misconduct to the Cuomo administration’s monthslong obfuscation of the overall variety of nursing residence residents who died from COVID-19.
A minimum of 40 of the Meeting members who say they’re prepared to begin impeachment proceedings are Democrats. …
If the Meeting votes to question Cuomo, the state Senate might launch an impeachment trial ‘in weeks,’ Deputy Majority Chief Mike Gianaris advised The Related Press.
If the state Meeting votes to question Cuomo, the case would then be taken up by a excessive court docket of impeachment, which might encompass 62 state senators and the seven members of the New York court docket of appeals.
The excessive court docket would hear the case, and if two thirds of the court docket votes to convict Cuomo, he can be faraway from workplace and changed by lieutenant governor Kathy Hochul.
Up to date
16:00
David Smith
Taking a stand towards Donald Trump is assured to deliver Republicans on-line abuse, major election challengers and barbs from the previous US president himself. However it is usually proving profitable as donors scramble to breathe life into the anti-Trump resistance.
Liz Cheney, a Republican congresswoman from Wyoming and main Trump critic, loved her second consecutive file fundraising quarter with $1.88m from April to June, in response to monetary reviews filed with the Federal Election Fee. She had raised $1.54m within the first three months of the yr.
Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois congressman who defied occasion leaders by becoming a member of Cheney on the Home of Representatives choose committee investigating the 6 January rebel, raised virtually $2m within the second quarter, whereas his political motion committee (Pac) took in $1.5m-plus.
And People Conserving Nation First, which describes itself because the “solely Tremendous Pac devoted solely to defending the members of Congress who took votes of conscience to question or convict President Trump” after the US Capitol riot, reported $525,000 in revenue via the tip of June.
The hefty fundraising numbers recommend that, whereas Trump retains an iron grip on the Republican occasion, there’s nonetheless vital cash behind efforts to wrest it free from the person who was twice impeached and misplaced the Home, Senate and White Home.
Learn the complete report:
15:42
MTG goes to Iowa: in response to Bloomberg Information, far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is planning a visit to the Iowa State Honest, an occasion steadily attended by potential presidential candidates.
Bloomberg reviews:
It’s not but clear whether or not Greene will converse on the occasion on Aug. 19 or simply attend it. The Des Moines Register this yr isn’t planning to prepare a Cleaning soap Field, which politicians up to now have used to boost their profiles for a nationwide marketing campaign.
Greene has induced plenty of controversies each earlier than and since taking workplace that would severely affect her hopes of successful a Republican presidential major.
Most lately, Greene was broadly condemned for evaluating coronavirus-related public well being steering to the remedy of Jewish folks in the course of the Holocaust, which resulted within the homicide of six million Jews.
Home members additionally voted to take away Greene from her committee assignments earlier this yr as a consequence of her previous racist and extremist statements.
15:16
Maya Yang reviews for the Guardian:
CNN host Chris Cuomo has as soon as once more been thrust within the highlight after a bombshell report launched on Tuesday by New York lawyer basic Letitia James detailed a number of cases of sexual harassment and nonconsensual touching by his brother Andrew Cuomo, the New York governor.
The report sheds gentle on new particulars surrounding Chris Cuomo’s involvement in managing his brother’s response, earlier this yr, to the sexual harassment scandal.
“Chris needs to verify we have now sufficient contrition right here,” political marketing consultant Lis Smith wrote in a sequence of messages to different Cuomo allies in February.
Chris Cuomo was additionally copied on a collection of emails from Governor Cuomo’s communication director and chief of workers on how one can deal with the sexual allegations made by Charlotte Bennett, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo.
Chris Cuomo additionally appeared to draft an announcement for his brother, writing, amongst different contritions: “I by no means supposed to offend anybody or trigger any hurt … My solely want is so as to add some levity and banter to what’s a really severe enterprise.”
On Tuesday evening, on his primetime present, Chris Cuomo didn’t point out the report or its findings.
14:54
In a shock addition to the president’s schedule, Joe Biden has made a cease at Plumbers & Gasfitters Native 5’s coaching facility in Lanham, Maryland.
“On the Native 5 Coaching Facility, the President will meet with trainers and apprentices, in addition to union members from the United Affiliation,” the White Home stated.
“The President will tour the coaching facility throughout three stops: the sand coaching station, the welding station, and the ultimate meeting station. He’ll talk about how his Construct Again Higher agenda prioritizes investing in America’s employees and creating good-paying, high-skill, union jobs throughout the nation.”
The go to comes because the Senate tries to finalize the main points of the $1tn bipartisan infrastructure invoice, which Biden will doubtless pitch on the coaching facility.
14:37
Extra legal prosecutors request to see the proof towards Cuomo
Joanna Walters
The district attorneys of Manhattan and Westchester and Nassau counties are in touch with New York state lawyer basic Letitia James’s workplace to start the method of acquiring and reviewing the proof towards governor Andrew Cuomo with a view to any legal prices.
Yesterday, shortly after James revealed the findings of her crew’s five-month investigation into Cuomo which concluded that he had sexually harassed 11 ladies, David Soares, the district lawyer of Albany county – the place the state legislative meeting and Cuomo’s foremost office are situated – introduced he was requesting to see the proof.
In the present day, he’s been joined by three different native prosecutors from different elements of New York state, which might relate to the locations the place alleged offenses by Cuomo came about.
The crew of Cyrus Vance, the district lawyer of the New York Metropolis borough of Manhattan, has begun the method “to start requesting investigative supplies of their possession pertaining to incidents that occurred in Manhattan,” spokesman Danny Frost stated in an announcement this morning.
To the north of New York Metropolis, Westchester county district lawyer Miriam Rocah advised the Reuters information company that her workplace equally had requested from James “investigative supplies” referring to a criticism made by a girl recognized within the report as a state trooper who advised investigators that a few of Cuomo’s alleged conduct occurred within the county.
And simply to the east of town, on Lengthy Island, Nassau County’s appearing district lawyer Joyce Smith advised The Related Press that: “We’re reviewing the deeply disturbing findings.” She pledged her workplace would “totally and expeditiously examine any potential crimes” that occurred there.
When she introduced her investigation’s findings yesterday, James stated Cuomo had “violated federal and state legal guidelines”. She was referring to civil legal guidelines towards offenses referring to office harassment, bullying and retaliation.
In a choice which puzzled some, she didn’t particularly refer her report back to prosecutors and stated the job of her workplace was accomplished and indicated that successfully it was as much as them in the event that they needed to look into legal prosecution. Clearly the DAs didn’t want the immediate and it’ll stay to be seen if any decides that the proof warrants prices referring to sexual assault.
Up to date
14:02
Joe Biden despatched his birthday needs to Barack Obama, as the previous president turns 60 years previous at present.
“Completely happy birthday, @BarackObama. I’m proud to name you a brother and a good friend — and I’m grateful in your selfless service to this nation,” the present president stated on Twitter.
Obama had deliberate a big birthday celebration on Martha’s Winery, the place about 700 company, together with Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, have been anticipated to attend the massive bash.
However the occasion has been considerably scaled again because of the rising variety of coronavirus circumstances because the Delta variant continues to unfold throughout the nation. The Guardian’s Amanda Holpuch has extra particulars:
13:41
Jen Psaki was requested about Joe Biden’s feedback on the brand new pandemic-related eviction moratorium, after the president recommended the coverage would not going “cross constitutional muster”.
“The president wouldn’t have supported shifting ahead if he didn’t assist the authorized justification,” Psaki stated. “He’s old style in that approach.”
However Biden recommended in any other case yesterday, simply earlier than the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention introduced that it was instituting a brand new 60-day eviction moratorium in areas with excessive ranges of coronavirus unfold, which covers about 90% of the nation.
Shortly earlier than the CDC made its announcement, Biden was requested whether or not he was assured the moratorium would stand in court docket, contemplating the supreme court docket beforehand stated that congressional authorization can be required to increase the prevailing moratorium.
“The majority of the constitutional scholarship says that it’s not more likely to cross constitutional muster,” Biden replied. “However there are a number of key students who assume that it could and it’s definitely worth the effort.”
Some progressive lawmakers criticized Biden for his feedback, accusing him of undermining a much-needed coverage that would shield tens of millions of People from eviction.
13:27
A reporter requested Jen Psaki in regards to the White Home’s response to the World Well being Group calling for a moratorium on coronavirus vaccine boosters till extra first doses are administered in low-income nations.
The press secretary argued the WHO was presenting a “false alternative” between administering boosters and delivering vaccine doses to low-income nations.
Noting that the Biden administration has now delivered greater than 110 million vaccine doses overseas, Psaki stated the US additionally has sufficient doses for boosters if they’re authorized by the Meals and Drug Administration.
“We imagine we will do each, and we don’t have to make that alternative,” Psaki stated.
13:15
Biden believes Cuomo ‘ought to do the suitable factor’ and resign, White Home says
Joe Biden has not spoken to Andrew Cuomo since investigators introduced their findings that the New York governor sexually harassed not less than 11 ladies, Jen Psaki stated.
The White Home press secretary advised reporters that she was “not conscious of” any conversations between Cuomo’s staffers and administration officers.
Requested when Biden final spoke to Cuomo, Psaki replied, “I must test on that.”
An AP reporter then pressed Psaki on whether or not Biden believes the New York Meeting ought to impeach Cuomo if he continues to refuse to resign.
“The president made clear yesterday that Governor Cuomo ought to resign, and I imagine we should always begin with that,” Psaki stated. “There’s clearly a course of that’s going to proceed, and leaders in New York spoke to that yesterday.
“We are going to depart it to them to talk to that, however the president believes Governor Cuomo ought to do the suitable factor, resign and depart house for future management in New York.”
Requested whether or not the White Home has confidence in Cuomo to proceed main New York because the state fights an increase in coronavirus circumstances, Psaki stated, “We are not looking for the folks of New York to be impacted in a damaging approach as they’re working to struggle Covid. And we’re going to proceed to work with the administration in New York, with leaders in New York to proceed to struggle Covid. That can proceed, and clearly if management modifications within the state, we are going to work with a unique chief.”
Up to date
13:01
The White Home press secretary, Jen Psaki, is now holding her each day briefing with reporters, and she or he began her remarks by mourning the lack of Pentagon police officer George Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was fatally stabbed on the Pentagon Metro station yesterday by a suspect who was then shot and killed. Gonzalez was a veteran who beforehand received the Military Commendation Medal for his service in Iraq.
Psaki stated that Gonzalez’s life was “one in every of service”. “He misplaced his life defending those that shield the nation,” Psaki stated, providing the White Home’s condolences to the officer’s family members.
12:42
In the present day to this point
Right here’s the place the day stands to this point:
One among Andrew Cuomo’s accusers referred to as for his impeachment, after an investigation concluded the New York governor had sexually harassed not less than 11 ladies. Charlotte Bennett, a former Cuomo aide whose allegations have been substantiated by investigators, stated the state Meeting ought to transfer as shortly as attainable to question the governor. “We’ve a report. We’ve the details,” Bennett advised CBS Information. “And if he’s not prepared to step down, then we have now a duty to behave and impeach him.”
Almost 6 in 10 New Yorkers imagine Cuomo ought to resign, in response to a brand new ballot. The Marist ballot discovered that 59% of New Yorkers, together with 52% of registered Democrats, say Cuomo ought to step down. An equivalent variety of New Yorkers, 59%, assist the state Meeting impeaching Cuomo if he refuses to resign.
The World Well being Group is looking for a moratorium on coronavirus vaccine boosters via the tip of subsequent month. The WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, argued the moratorium was mandatory “to allow not less than 10% of the inhabitants of each nation to be vaccinated” earlier than boosters added extra stress on international vaccine provide.
The weblog could have extra developing, so keep tuned.
12:23
WHO requires moratorium on vaccine boosters to hurry up international first doses
Mattha Busby reviews for the Guardian:
The World Well being Group’s head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has stated the WHO is looking for a moratorium on Covid-19 vaccine boosters till not less than the tip of September.
He stated the transfer was to allow that not less than 10% of the inhabitants of each nation was vaccinated, whereas WHO officers have additionally stated it’s not confirmed that giving booster pictures to individuals who have already acquired two vaccine doses is efficient.
Tedros stated:
Whereas a whole bunch of tens of millions of persons are nonetheless ready for his or her first dose, some wealthy nations are shifting in direction of booster doses. To date, greater than 4bn Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally. Greater than 80% have gone to high- and upper-middle revenue nations, though they account for lower than half of the world’s inhabitants.
Accordingly, WHO is looking for a moratorium on boosters till not less than the tip of September, to allow not less than 10% of the inhabitants of each nation to be vaccinated. To make that occur, we want everybody’s cooperation, particularly the handful of nations and corporations that management the worldwide provide of vaccines.
Final week, Israeli president Isaac Herzog acquired a 3rd shot of coronavirus vaccine, kicking off a marketing campaign to present booster doses to folks aged over 60 amid waning efficacy of the jabs. France, Germany and plenty of Center Jap nations are additionally to begin administering booster pictures.
Learn extra on the Guardian’s coronavirus dwell weblog:
12:03
Republican congresswoman Julia Letlow, who misplaced her husband to coronavirus, is encouraging her constituents to get vaccinated.
In an interview with CBS Information, Letlow recounted how her husband, Luke Letlow, contracted coronavirus late final yr. His sickness developed into pneumonia, which severely broken his lungs and finally took his life.
“I had prayed for weeks prior about the potential of the vaccine, and we have been so excited that it was popping out and that it was going to be broadly accessible,” Letlow stated. “And he missed it by two weeks.”
On the time of his loss of life, Letlow was a congressman-elect who was anticipated to be sworn in simply days later. Julia Letlow later received a particular election to fill her husband’s seat representing Louisiana’s fifth congressional district.
Now, Louisiana is within the throes of its worst case surge but, whereas simply 37.1% of the state is totally vaccinated. The Democratic governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, has issued an indoor masks mandate as he urges his constituents to get the vaccine.
Letlow is telling Luke’s story to encourage Louisianans to get vaccinated, saying it’s “heartbreaking” to see folks refusing to benefit from this doubtlessly life-saving medication.
“I’d have given something, I’d have given every thing for that shot to be accessible to us,” Letlow stated. “We’ve the reply. Let’s use it.”