Law enforcement officials are investigating the motive behind a U-Haul truck driver who crashed into security barriers near the White House on Monday. And former President Donald Trump is facing another lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, who previously won a defamation and sexual abuse lawsuit against him. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
U-Haul truck driver apprehended after crash near White House
The driver of a U-Haul truck was taken into custody after crashing into security barriers near the White House on Monday night, May 22, according to U.S. Park Police. The driver now faces a series of charges, including threatening to kill or harm a president, vice president, or family member, assault with a dangerous weapon, and destruction of federal property, according to officials.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., the crash occurred on the north side of Lafayette Square. Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service chief of communications, said in a statement that the “preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers.” The FBI’s National Capital Response Squad is assisting Park Police and the Secret Service in the investigation.
As a precautionary measure, the Secret Service requested the evacuation of the nearby Hay Adams hotel for a brief period. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Following the crash, law enforcement agencies conducted a search of the U-Haul truck. No explosive devices were found in the vehicle, however, a Nazi flag and other pieces of evidence were discovered by investigators at the scene.
Over 1.5 million Americans apply to sponsor migrants
The Biden administration’s new migration initiatives have seen an overwhelming response, with more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. applying to help sponsor migrants. These initiatives aim to alleviate some of the pressure at the border and provide support to individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Under the program, sponsored migrants are given a two-year work permit upon arrival in the country.
Last year, President Joe Biden announced the program, allowing for up to 30,000 migrants to enter the U.S. every month. Documents obtained by CBS News reveal that over a million Americans have submitted applications to sponsor migrants, with approximately 12,000 migrants applying for sponsorship daily.
Since the initiation of the program, over 100,000 migrants have arrived in the U.S., benefiting from sponsorship. However, a substantial number of cases are still pending. Currently, there are approximately 580,000 Haitians, 380,000 Cubans, 120,000 Venezuelans, and 20,000 Nicaraguans awaiting approval for their sponsorship applications.
The Biden administration has emphasized that migrants who enter the country illegally will be returned and urges migrants to apply through the sponsorship program. However, some like Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former DHS official and current immigration analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center, believe the backlog of applicants could discourage migrants from utilizing the proper channels for migration.
Western states reach historic agreement to preserve the Colorado River
A group of seven Western states have come together to reach a historic agreement aimed at safeguarding the Colorado River, which supplies drinking water to approximately 40 million people. The pact has been necessitated by the persistent drought conditions posing a threat to the river’s sustainability.
Under the agreement, California, Arizona and Nevada have committed to reducing their utilization of Colorado River water by 13% over the next three years. This voluntary reduction in water usage is an essential step to mitigate the strain on the river’s resources and ensure its long-term viability.
Additionally, the Biden administration has granted $1.2 billion in grants under the Inflation Reduction Act that will compensate local water districts, cities and Native American tribes for cutting back.
Emergency shelters in Guam reach capacity as typhoon approaches
Guam, a U.S. territory located in the Pacific, is witnessing a surge in residents seeking refuge in emergency shelters as they prepare for an approaching typhoon. Authorities have issued warnings advising individuals residing in non-concrete structures to find alternative cover before the storm strikes.
Meteorologists are predicting that this typhoon could be the most significant storm to hit the region in over two decades. The island is projected to face the impact of the typhoon by midday on Wednesday. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said that she would place Guam essentially in a lockdown effective 1 p.m. Tuesday.
As the threat of the typhoon looms, Guam’s emergency shelters are quickly filling up with residents seeking a safe haven from the approaching storm. Authorities have urged individuals residing in houses that are not fully made of concrete to seek shelter elsewhere for their safety. This precautionary measure aims to protect vulnerable structures from potential damage and ensure the well-being of the island’s residents.
E. Jean Carroll seeks additional damages in lawsuit against Trump
E. Jean Carroll, who previously won a defamation and sexual abuse lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, is now seeking an additional $10 million in damages. This new lawsuit follows comments made by Trump during a CNN Town Hall the day after he was found liable in the initial civil case.
Carroll’s legal team argues that Trump’s remarks indicate his lack of remorse and disregard for the previous legal proceedings. She was awarded $5 million from in damages after her initial lawsuit against the former president. In a written statement, Carroll’s attorneys said that Trump’s comments after the jury’s verdict demonstrate that he remains undeterred by the legal action taken against him.
Carroll’s lawyers also asked for a speedy resolution “while she remains in good health and before Donald Trump’s time and attention are consumed entirely by his presidential campaign.” Joe Tacopina, a Trump lawyer, declined to comment on the new legal claim.
Twitter bug resurrects deleted tweets, retweets, and replies, users report
A bug on Twitter has allegedly resurfaced deleted tweets, retweets, and replies, according to reports from over 400 users. The glitch was initially discovered by James Vincent, a reporter from The Verge, who brought attention to the technical issue.
Vincent observed that tweets that were previously mass-deleted seemed to be reappearing on users’ profiles. As of now, Twitter has not provided any official comment on the alleged bug. Vincent wrote in an article about the situation that “it’s another demonstration of Twitter’s crumbling infrastructure and inability to fulfill even the basic functions it promises users. “
