Hunter Biden seeks to dismiss tax charges: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 21, 2024
Attorneys for Hunter Biden seek to have his tax charges dismissed, saying he was selectively targeted by prosecutors. And heading to the airport? Changes at American Airlines may have you rethinking your checked bags. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.
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Hunter Biden seeks to dismiss tax charges, says he was selectively targeted
The legal team for Hunter Biden has asked a judge to dismiss tax-related charges brought by Special Counsel David Weiss in federal court in 2023. In Tuesday’s Feb. 20 filing, the attorneys accuse prosecutors of selectively targeting the president’s son, bowing to political pressure, violating a statute of limitations, and filing duplicative charges.
The attorneys said Weiss has “gone to extreme lengths to bring charges against Mr. Biden that would not have been filed against anyone else.”
In December of 2023, the special counsel charged Hunter Biden with nine counts, alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes for three years. Hunter has pleaded not guilty to all tax-related charges, as well as those related to another case, his alleged illegal possession of a firearm.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Weiss said a former FBI informant, who is accused of lying to the agency about President Biden and his son taking $5 million each in bribes, received some of the information from officials associated with Russian intelligence. Weiss said Alexander Smirnov told the FBI of the Russian connections following his arrest on Thursday, Feb. 15. Smirnov has since been released from custody under certain conditions, including wearing an ankle bracelet and restricting travel only for court appearances.
White House reacts to Alabama’s frozen embryo ruling
Days after Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos can be considered children under state law on Friday, Feb. 16, critics of the decision are speaking out, including those in the Biden administration. While saying she would not comment on the specific case, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacted while on board Air Force One on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
“This is exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make,” Jean-Pierre said. “…as a reminder, this is the same state whose attorney general threatened to prosecute people who help women travel out of state to seek the care they need.”
The Alabama ruling concerned a case where a couple’s embryos were destroyed in an accident at a fertility clinic in 2020. In the majority ruling by the all-Republican court, the justices said an 1872 statute in the state’s constitution allowing parents to sue over the death of a minor child “applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location.”
Barbara Collura, the CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, told the Association Press that the ruling puts into question the practice of in vitro fertilization or IVF. Collura added that it is a “terrifying development” for the 1 in 6 people impacted by infertility.
Live Action, an anti-abortion group, cheered the decision.
“Each person, from the tiniest embryo to an elder nearing the end of his life, has incalculable value that deserves and is guaranteed legal protection,” Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action, said in a statement.
The justice’s decision means the couple’s wrongful death lawsuit can proceed, with the clinic having the option to ask the court to reconsider its ruling.
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Two men charged with murder in Kansas City Super Bowl Parade shooting
Authorities charged Dominic Miller and Lyndell Mays with murder following a Valentine’s Day shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, which left one woman dead and over 20 people injured. Additionally, charges have been filed against two teenagers connected to the incident. Officials announced on Tuesday, Feb. 20, that Miller and Mays are accused of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful weapon use.
According to prosecutors, the violence erupted from a dispute between Mays and an unidentified person, initiated by mutual stares, as outlined in court documents and corroborated by witnesses and video evidence.
According to the charges, evidence points to Miller’s gunfire as the cause of 43-year-old Elizabeth Lopez-Galvan’s death. Lopez-Galvan was a mother of two and a local radio DJ. Currently, both suspects are receiving medical treatment while detained on a $1 million bond each.
FuboTV sues Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery over streaming service
The streaming wars seem to be headed for the courtroom as sports streaming platform FuboTV is suing Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery over their recently announced sports streaming service. FuboTV said it filed the antitrust suit because the joint venture would “destroy competition and inflate prices for consumers.”
The collaboration between the media companies looks to bring all of their sports assets, including the NFL, NBA, and FIFA, under one streaming service. It is slated to launch in the fall of 2024. A spokesperson for the joint venture has so far declined to comment on the lawsuit.
American Airlines ups baggage fees for first time in over 5 years
If you are flying on American Airlines soon, you may want to pack a little lighter to save a few bucks. The airline has announced it is raising checked bag fees for the first time since 2018. Passengers checking bags at the airport on most flights will now pay $40 for their first checked bag, up from $30. But paying for your first checked bag before you get to the airport will cost $35. Checking a second bag will cost $45, up from $40.
American Airlines said the price bump has to do with fuel prices making the cost of transporting luggage “significantly higher.” Alaska Airlines and JetBlue have also recently increased checked bag prices.
According to the Transportation Department, in the first nine months of 2023, U.S. airlines raked in $5.5 billion in bag fees; American Airlines accounted for $1 billion of that.
American Airlines also announced on Tuesday, Feb. 20, that it is restructuring its frequent flyer miles to drive more traffic to its own website. Rewards for basic economy tickets will only be available to passengers who book through American Airlines. The airline will soon announce a list of third-party travel agencies whose bookings will earn customer rewards.
Four separate films about each Beatles member to be released in 2027
Music movies are having a moment these days, “Bob Marley: One Love” topped the box office this weekend, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” broke concert movie records, and a film on the life of Michael Jackson is currently in production. Now we know the next four musicians with movies on the way, or should we say the next “Fab Four”?
That’s right, The Beatles, all of The Beatles, will each have a separate film made about their lives. According to Sony Pictures, each movie will be shown from a different Beatles member’s point of view, with the films intersecting. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison have granted full life story and music rights to the scripted films. All four movies are set to be released in theaters in 2027.
Tags: Abortion, Alabama, American Airlines, David Weiss, Fox, Hunter Biden, Jet Blue, Joe Biden, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Karine Jean-Pierre, Missouri, Sports, Streaming, Super Bowl
ATTORNEYS FOR HUNTER BIDEN SEEK TO HAVE HIS TAX CHARGES DISMISSED — SAYING HE WAS SELECTIVELY TARGETED BY PROSECUTORS
AND — HEADING TO THE AIRPORT? AMERICAN AIRLINES’ CHANGES MAY HAVE YOU RETHINKING YOUR CHECKED BAGS.
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
THE LEGAL TEAM FOR HUNTER BIDEN HAS ASKED A JUDGE TO DISMISS TAX-RELATED CHARGES BROUGHT BY SPECIAL DAVID WEISS IN FEDERAL COURT LAST YEAR.
IN TUESDAY’S FILING — THE ATTORNEYS ACCUSE PROSECUTORS OF SELECTIVELY TARGETING THE PRESIDENT’S SON – BOWING TO POLITICAL PRESSURE — VIOLATING A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS – AND FILING DUPLICATIVE CHARGES.
THE ATTORNEYS SAYING WEISS HAS QUOTE “GONE TO EXTREME LENGTHS TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST” HUNTER – “THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST ANYONE ELSE”.
LAST DECEMBER – THE SPECIAL COUNSEL CHARGED HUNTER BIDEN WITH NINE COUNTS – ALLEGING HE FAILED TO PAY 1.4 MILLION IN TAXES FOR THREE YEARS.
HUNTER HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL TAX-RELATED CHARGES – AS WELL as THOSE RELATED TO ANOTHER CASE — charged with ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.
MEANWHILE – SPECIAL COUNSEL WEISS SAYS A FORMER FBI INFORMANT WHO IS ACCUSED OF LYING TO THE AGENCY ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS SON TAKING FIVE MILLION DOLLARS EACH IN BRIBES RECEIVED SOME OF THE INFORMATION FROM OFFICIALS ASSOCIATED WITH RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE.
WEISS SAYS ALEXANDER SMIRNOV TOLD THE FBI OF THE RUSSIAN CONNECTIONS FOLLOWING HIS ARREST LAST WEEK.
SMIRNOV HAS SINCE BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTODY as he awaits trial.
DAYS AFTER ALABAMA’S SUPREME COURT RULED FROZEN EMBRYOS CAN BE CONSIDERED CHILDREN UNDER STATE LAW – CRITICS OF THE DECISION ARE SPEAKING OUT – INCLUDING THOSE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
WHILE SAYING SHE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE SPECIFIC CASE — PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE GAVE HER REACTION TO REPORTERS ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE ON TUESDAY.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE | WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: “This is exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make.” “…As a reminder, this is the same state whose attorney general threatened to prosecute people who help women travel out of state to seek the care they need.”
THE ALABAMA RULING CONCERNED A CASE WHERE A COUPLE’S EMBRYOS WERE DESTROYED IN AN ACCIDENT AT A FERTILITY CLINIC IN 2020.
THE CASE — PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE PRACTICE OF “IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION” — OR “IVF“.
IN THE MAJORITY RULING BY THE ALL-REPUBLICAN COURT – THE JUSTICES SAID AN 18-72 STATUTE IN THE STATE’S CONSTITUTION ALLOWING PARENTS TO SUE OVER THE DEATH OF A MINOR CHILD QUOTE “APPLIES TO ALL UNBORN CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LOCATION.”
THE JUSTICE’S DECISION MEANS THE COUPLE’S WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT CAN PROCEED – WITH THE CLINIC HAVING THE OPTION TO ASK THE COURT TO RECONSIDER ITS RULING.
1 IN 6 PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED BY INFERTILITY ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
AUTHORITIES HAVE CHARGED TWO MEN WITH MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH LAST WEEK’S KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SUPER BOWL PARADE SHOOTING, WHICH RESULTED IN ONE WOMAN’S DEATH AND OVER 20 INJURIES. TWO TEENAGERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHARGED IN THE INCIDENT.
THE TWO MEN — DOMINIC MILLER AND LYNDELL MAYS — EACH FACE CHARGES OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, TWO COUNTS OF “ARMED CRIMINAL ACTION” AND ONE COUNT OF “UNLAWFUL USE OF A WEAPON.”
COURT DOCUMENTS SAY THE VIOLENCE ERUPTED FOLLOWING AN ALTERCATION BETWEEN MAYS AND A STRANGER.
WITNESSES AND VIDEO FOOTAGE INDICATE THE ARGUMENT BEGAN OVER WHY THEY WERE STARING AT EACH OTHER.
AUTHORITIES SAY EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT MILLER’S GUNFIRE KILLED 43-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH LOPEZ-GALVAN, A MOTHER OF TWO AND LOCAL RADIO DJ.
MAYS AND MILLER REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AND ARE BEING HELD ON 1 MILLION DOLLAR BOND.
THE STREAMING WARS SEEM TO BE HEADED FOR THE COURTROOM AS SPORTS STREAMING PLATFORM FUBOTV IS SUING DISNEY, FOX AND WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY OVER THEIR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED SPORTS STREAMING SERVICE.
FUBO SAYING IT FILED THE ANTITRUST SUIT BECAUSE THE JOINT VENTURE WILL QUOTE “DESTROY COMPETITION AND INFLATE PRICES FOR CONSUMERS.”
THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MEDIA COMPANIES LOOKS TO BRING ALL OF THEIR SPORTS ASSETS INCLUDING THE NFL, NBA AND FIFA UNDER ONE STREAMING SERVICE. IT IS SLATED TO LAUNCH IN THE FALL.
A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE JOINT VENTURE HAS SO FAR DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE LAWSUIT.
IF YOU’RE FLYING ON AMERICAN AIRLINES SOON, YOU MAY WANT TO PACK A LITTLE LIGHTER TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS.
THE AIRLINE HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS RAISING CHECKED BAG FEES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 20-18.
PASSENGERS CHECKING BAGS AT THE AIRPORT ON MOST FLIGHTS WILL NOW PAY 40-DOLLARS FOR THEIR FIRST CHECKED BAG — UP FROM 30-DOLLARS.
BUT YOU COULD SAVE FIVE DOLLARS IF YOU PAY FOR YOUR FIRST CHECKED BAG BEFORE YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT.
CHECKING A SECOND BAG WILL COST 45-DOLLARS, UP FROM 40.
AMERICAN AIRLINES SAYS FUEL PRICES ARE MAKING THE COST OF TRANSPORTING LUGGAGE “SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER” RESULTING IN THE BAG FEE INCREASE.
ACCORDING TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT – IN THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF 20-23 —
US AIRLINES RAKED IN 5.5-BILLION DOLLARS IN BAG FEES – AMERICAN AIRLINES ACCOUNTED FOR 1-BILLION OF THAT.
FINALLY THIS MORNING – MUSIC MOVIES ARE HAVING A MOMENT THESE DAYS – “BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE” TOPPED THE BOX office LAST WEEKEND, TAYLOR SWIFT’S “THE ERA TOUR” BROKE CONCERT MOVIE RECORDS, AND A FILM ON THE LIFE OF MICHAEL JACKSON IS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION.
AND NOW WE KNOW THE NEXT FOUR MUSICIANS WITH MOVIES ON THE WAY – OR SHOULD WE SAY THE NEXT “FAB FOUR”?
THAT’S RIGHT – THE BEATLES – ALL OF THE BEATLES – WILL EACH HAVE A SEPARATE FILM MADE ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
ACCORDING TO SONY PICTURES — EACH MOVIE WILL BE SHOWN FROM A DIFFERENT BEATLES MEMBER’S POINT OF VIEW – WITH THE FILMS INTERSECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
PAUL MCCARTNEY, RINGO STARR AND THE FAMILIES OF JOHN LENNON AND GEORGE HARRISON HAVE GRANTED FULL LIFE “STORY AND MUSIC RIGHTS” FOR THE SCRIPTED FILMS.
ALL FOUR MOVIES ARE SET TO BE RELEASED IN THEATERS IN 20-27.
THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS WEDNESDAY.
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WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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