January 1, Pence Rebukes Trump Over Election Claims

I hope you had a nice weekend Americans,

Former vice president Mike Pence recently rebuked Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Congress confirmed the election result shortly after the January 6 insurrection on the US Capitol. “I will always be proud that we did our part on that tragic day to reconvene the Congress and fulfilled our duty under the constitution and the laws of the United States,” Pence said in a speech in California. “The truth is, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.”

In further Trump-related news, Manhattan prosecutors are considering filing charges against his company, the Trump Organization. The New York Times reported that charges could be filed as early as this week related to fringe benefits the company gave to top executives, such as use of apartments, cars and school tuition. “The charges are absolutely outrageous and unprecedented, if indeed the charges are filed. This is just to get back at Donald Trump,” said Trump Organization lawyer Ron Fischetti. “We’re going to plead not guilty and we’ll make a motion to dismiss.”

In Tennessee, police arrested two people for allegedly shooting up a Burger King after an argument over a spicy chicken sandwich. Following the altercation with employees, Tavarus McKinney and Keona Halliburton left the fast-food restaurant and returned, firing multiple shots from the road into the parking lot. Two people were shot. McKinney and Halliburton were charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder and four counts of employment of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Amazon and Google are being investigated by British regulators for potentially breaking consumer law by not removing fake product reviews. “Our worry is that millions of online shoppers could be misled by reading fake reviews and then spending their money based on those recommendations,” said UK Competition and Markets Authority chief executive Andrea Coscelli. Both companies said they would cooperate with the CMA inquiry.

A blood test that’s capable of detecting more than 50 kinds of cancer has been approved to roll out as a screening test for those at higher risk, including asymptomatic patients age 50 or older. The test, Galleri, is now available in the US by prescription only. A blood sample is taken and then analyzed for DNA that tumors shed into the bloodstream. Then, genomic sequencing and machine learning are used to further detect cancer-suggesting abnormalities. Results are made available within 10 business days.

Lastly, the Justice Department is suing the state of Georgia over its new voting law, citing its intention to specifically restrict ballot access of black voters. “Our complaint alleges that recent changes to Georgia’s election laws were enacted with the purpose of denying or abridging the right of Black Georgians to vote on account of their race or color, in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Be well,

Fraser Dixon

Sources

• Pence rebukes Trump and says he was ‘proud’ to certify election result
• Trump’s company could face criminal charges in New York City
• Tennessee Burger King shooting: 2 arrested after spicy chicken sandwich dispute
• Amazon and Google are being investigated for failing to remove fake product reviews
• Pre-symptom blood test that detects more than 50 cancers rolled out
• In Suing Georgia, Justice Department Says State’s New Voting Law Targets Black Voters