Prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to ‘influence’ US policy
With a month to go until Hunter Biden’s federal tax trial, prosecutors are making new allegations the president’s son accepted payments from a Romanian businessman to influence U.S. policy. And new details are emerging about the terror plot that resulted in the cancellation of Taylor Swift’s concerts in Austria. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.
Prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to ‘influence’ U.S. policy
New details are coming out of Hunter Biden’s federal tax case. While the trial doesn’t begin until September, there’s a new court filing from the special counsel laying out a new allegation the prosecution plans to bring up.
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Federal prosecutors allege the president’s son was compensated by a Romanian businessman who was trying to influence U.S. policy and end a local investigation of him in Romania.
According to the Wednesday, Aug. 7 filing, the special counsel intends to go after Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings even more, including his association with Burisma — a Ukrainian natural gas company — and an energy company in China.
The prosecution said it evidence will show he “performed almost no work in exchange for millions of dollars” from these entities and will speak to Hunter Biden’s “state of mind” and “intent” during the years in question.
Hunter Biden’s team had requested certain evidence be omitted from trial, questioning its relevance to the federal tax charges, which include failing to pay taxes, failing to file, and filing a fraudulent form.
He’s charged with three felonies and six misdemeanors in the tax case. The president’s youngest son is accused of failing to pay more than a million dollars in taxes between 2016 and 2019. Prosecutors allege he used the funds to live lavishly, including spending millions on drugs, escorts and luxury cars. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty in the case.
This is separate from Hunter Biden’s federal gun case where he was convicted in June of lying about his illegal drug use while filling out a form to purchase a gun. He has not been sentenced yet in that case.
Biden ‘not confident’ in peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses election
We’re getting a preview of President Joe Biden’s one-on-one interview with CBS News. While the full interview will air on Sunday, Aug. 11, there’s a clip that is getting a lot of attention Thursday morning, Aug. 8.
CBS News reporter Robert Costa asked the president if he’s confident there will be a peaceful transfer of power in January.
“If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all,” Biden said. “He means what he says, he means it, all the stuff about if we lose there will be a bloodbath.”
He added, “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
Trump’s “bloodbath” comments came during a rally in March. The former president has said he was referring to a “bloodbath” in the economy and auto industry if he loses the 2024 election.
Three months later, Trump was asked during the presidential debate on June 27 whether he would accept the 2024 election results. He said as long as it’s a “fair and legal” election, he’ll accept whatever the results are come November.
Taylor Swift shows in Austria canceled over foiled terror plot
Three of Taylor Swift’s concerts set for Vienna, Austria have been canceled after authorities say they foiled a terror attack planned for that leg of her Eras Tour. Austrian police said they’ve arrested two suspects who they say are ISIS sympathizers and became “radicalized by the internet.”
Police chemical substances and technical devices were found at the home of a 19-year-old suspect and are being evaluated. Authorities also said they’ve made “further detentions” but didn’t give any more details.
The concert’s promoter said all tickets for the canceled shows will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
Family of French explorer killed in Titan catastrophe files $50M lawsuit
The family of French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet who died when the Titan submersible imploded during a deep dive to the wreckage of the Titanic is suing for more than $50 million. They said the crew of five people on board experienced “terror and mental anguish” before the disaster and accuse OceanGate, the sub’s operator, of gross negligence.
After the June 2023 incident when the vessel imploded due to catastrophic pressure loss, it was revealed that industry experts had raised serious safety concerns about the project years earlier.
The lawsuit also alleges OceanGate failed to disclose the Titan’s flaws and purposely concealed any issues from French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet. It also says Nargeolet — who had taken part in 37 dives to the Titanic wreckage, more than anyone else in the world — would not have taken the voyage if he’d known about the Titan’s issues.
The implosion killed four other people, including OceanGate’s CEO. This is the first lawsuit to be filed in connection with the disaster.
Intel shareholders sue after stock plunges over job and dividend cuts
Intel’s shareholders are suing a chip maker. Intel said the company hid problems with its manufacturing business ahead of announced layoffs and poor earnings.
On Thursday, Aug. 1, Intel announced it’s laying off 15% of its workforce and withholding stock dividends in an effort to save money and compete with more successful rivals. Shareholders said the announcement caused the company’s market value to sink more than $32 billion in a single day.
The lawsuit accuses Intel, its CEO, and CFO of making false and misleading statements that “artificially inflated” the company’s stock price prior to announcing a loss of more than a billion dollars between April and June of 2024.
American Quincy Hall comes from behind to win men’s 400-meter final
Team USA won more medals on day 12 of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The team picked up three more gold medals.
Team USA now tops the charts with 27 gold medals and 94 medals overall.
On Wednesday, the U.S. won wrestling, women’s cycling, and in track and field — even though it looked like sprinter Quincy Hall was out of the running with just seconds to go in the race.
Hall pulled off an amazing comeback with just a quarter of the 400-meter final to go. He fell into fourth place as the runners rounded the last bend but then picked up the pace and passed his competition to cross the finish line first.
Hall won gold by .04 seconds. His total time of 43.40 seconds is the fourth fastest ever in the event.
Tags: 2024 Elections, Austria, Auto industry, Big Tech, CBS News, chemicals, China, CHIPS Act, debate, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Eras tour, Gun control, Gun laws, Gun safety, Gun sales, Guns, Hunter Biden, Intel, Isis, Joe Biden, Lawsuit, Layoffs, Manufacturing, Microchip Technology, Olympic Games, Olympics, Paris, Romania, Semiconductor Chips, Special Counsel, Stock Market, Stock Market, Stocks, Tax Fraud, Tax returns, Taxes, Taylor Swift, Tech, Technology, Terrorism, Terrorist Attack, Tickets, Titan Submarine, Titanic, Ukraine
[KARAH RUCKER]
NEW DETAILS COMING OUT OF HUNTER BIDEN’S FEDERAL TAX CASE.
WHILE THE TRIAL DOESN’T BEGIN UNTIL NEXT MONTH —
THERE’S A NEW COURT FILING FROM THE SPECIAL COUNSEL —
LAYING OUT A NEW ALLEGATION THE PROSECUTION PLANS TO BRING UP —
SAYING HUNTER BIDEN WAS COMPENSATED BY A ROMANIAN BUSINESSMAN WHO WAS TRYING TO INFLUENCE U.S. POLICY AND END A LOCAL INVESTIGATION OF HIM IN ROMANIA.
ACCORDING TO THE FILING — THE SPECIAL COUNSEL INTENDS TO GO AFTER BIDEN’S FOREIGN BUSINESS DEALINGS EVEN MORE —
INCLUDING HIS ASSOCIATION WITH “BURISMA” — A UKRAINIAN NATURAL GAS COMPANY — AND AN ENERGY COMPANY IN CHINA.
THE PROSECUTION SAYS THEIR EVIDENCE WILL SHOW HUNTER BIDEN “PERFORMED ALMOST NO WORK IN EXCHANGE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS” FROM THESE ENTITIES —
AND WILL SPEAK TO BIDEN’S “STATE OF MIND” AND “INTENT” DURING THE YEARS IN QUESTION.
HUNTER BIDEN’S TEAM HAD REQUESTED CERTAIN EVIDENCE BE “OMITTED” FROM TRIAL —
QUESTIONING ITS RELEVANCE TO THE FEDERAL TAX CHARGES — WHICH INCLUDE FAILING TO PAY TAXES, FAILING TO FILE, AND FILING A FRAUDULENT FORM.
HUNTER BIDEN IS CHARGED WITH 3 FELONIES AND SIX MIsDEMEANORS IN THE TAX CASE —
ACCUSED OF FAILING TO PAY MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES BETWEEN 2016 AND 2019 —
ALLEGEDLY USING THE FUNDS TO LIVE LAVISHLY, INCLUDING SPENDING MILLIONS ON DRUGS, ESCORTS, AND LUXURY CARS.
THIS IS SEPARATE FROM HUNTER BIDEN’S FEDERAL GUN CASE — WHERE HE WAS CONVICTED IN JUNE OF LYING ABOUT HIS ILLEGAL DRUG USE WHILE FILLING OUT A FORM TO PURCHASE A GUN. HE HAS NOT BEEN SENTENCED YET IN THAT CASE.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAT DOWN FOR A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH CBS NEWS.
WHILE THE FULL INTERVIEW WILL AIR ON SUNDAY —
THERE’S A PREVIEW CLIP THAT IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS MORNING —
ROBERT COSTA | CBS NEWS
“Are you confident that there will be a peaceful transfer of power in January 2025?”
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“If Trump wins, I’m not confident at all. I mean, if Trump loses, I’m not confident at all. He means what he says, he means it, all the stuff about if we lose there will be a bloodbath.”
“You can’t love your country only when you win.”
TRUMP’S “BLOODBATH” COMMENTS CAME DURING A RALLY IN MARCH —
WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE BEING A “BLOODBATH” IN THE ECONOMY AND AUTO INDUSTRY IF HE LOSES THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THREE MONTHS LATER, TRUMP WAS ASKED DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ON JUNE 27TH WHETHER HE WOULD ACCEPT THE 2024 ELECTION RESULTS —
TO WHICH HE RESPONDED AS LONG AS IT IS A “FAIR AND LEGAL” ELECTION — THEN HE WOULD ACCEPT WHATEVER THE RESULTS ARE COME NOVEMBER.
THREE OF TAYLOR SWIFT’S CONCERTS SET FOR VIENNA, AUSTRIA HAVE BEEN CANCELED — AFTER AUTHORITIES SAY THEY FOILED A TERROR ATTACK PLANNED FOR THAT LEG OF HER “ERAS” TOUR.
AUSTRIAN POLICE SAID THEY’VE ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTS — WHO THEY SAY ARE SYMPATHIZERS OF ISIS AND BECAME “RADICALIZED BY THE INTERNET.”
POLICE SAYING THIS MORNING CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND TECHNICAL DEVICES WERE FOUND AT THE HOME OF A 19-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT — AND THEY ARE BEING EVALUATED.
POLICE ALSO SAID THEY’VE MADE “FURTHER DETENTIONS” BUT DIDN’T GIVE ANY MORE DETAILS.
THE CONCERT’S PROMOTER SAID ALL TICKETS FOR THE CANCELED SHOWS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REFUNDED WITHIN THE NEXT 10 BUSINESS DAYS.
THE FAMILY OF THE FRENCH EXPLORER WHO DIED WHEN THE TITAN SUBMERSIBLE IMPLODED DURING A DEEP DIVE TO THE WRECKAGE OF THE TITANIC IS SUING FOR MORE THAN 50 MILLION DOLLARS… SAYING THE CREW OF FIVE PEOPLE ON BOARD EXPERIENCED “TERROR AND MENTAL ANGUISH” BEFORE THE DISASTER — AND ACCUSING OCEANGATE, THE SUB’S OPERATOR, OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE.
AFTER THE JUNE 20-23 INCIDENT — WHEN THE VESSEL IMPLODED DUE TO CATASTROPHIC PRESSURE LOSS — WE LEARNED INDUSTRY EXPERTS HAD RAISED SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT YEARS EARLIER.
THE LAWSUIT ALSO ALLEGES OCEANGATE FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE TITAN’S FLAWS AND PURPOSELY CONCEALED ANY ISSUES FROM FRENCH EXPLORER PAUL HENRI NARGEOLET.
IT ALSO SAYS NARGEOLET — WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN 37 DIVES TO THE TITANIC WRECKAGE, MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD — WOULD NOT HAVE GONE ON THE VOYAGE IF HE’D KNOWN ABOUT THE TITAN’S ISSUES.
THE IMPLOSION KILLED FOUR OTHER PEOPLE — INCLUDING OCEANGATE’S C-E-O.
THIS IS THE FIRST LAWSUIT TO BE FILED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DISASTER.
INTEL’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE SUING THE CHIP MAKER — SAYING THE COMPANY HID PROBLEMS WITH ITS MANUFACTURING BUSINESS AHEAD OF ANNOUNCED LAYOFFS AND POOR EARNINGS.
LAST WEEK — INTEL ANNOUNCED IT’S LAYING OFF 15 PERCENT OF ITS WORKFORCE AND WITHHOLDING STOCK DIVIDENDS IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE MONEY AND COMPETE WITH MORE SUCCESSFUL RIVALS… WHICH SHAREHOLDERS SAY CAUSED THE COMPANY’S MARKET VALUE TO SINK MORE THAN 32 *BILLION* DOLLARS IN A SINGLE DAY.
THE LAWSUIT ACCUSES INTEL, ITS C-E-O, AND C-F-O OF MAKING FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS THAT “ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED” THE COMPANY’S STOCK PRICE PRIOR TO ANNOUNCING A LOSS OF MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
FINALLY THIS MORNING – MORE MEDALS FOR TEAM USA ON DAY 12 OF THE PARIS GAMES ON WEDNESDAY –
PICKING UP THREE GOLD – TOPPING THE CHARTS WITH 27 GOLD MEDALS AND 94 MEDALS OVERALL.
THE US WINNING IN WRESTLING, WOMEN’S CYCLING — AND IN TRACK AND FIELD – EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED LIKE SPRINTER QUINCY HALL WAS OUT OF THE RUNNING WITH JUST SECONDS TO GO IN THE RACE.
HALL PULLING OFF AN AMAZING COMEBACK – WITH JUST A QUARTER OF THE 400-METER FINAL TO GO.
HALL FALLING INTO FOURTH PLACE AS THE RUNNERS ROUNDED THE LAST BEND — BUT THEN PICKING UP THE PACE — AND PASSING HIS COMPETITION TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE FIRST.
WINNING GOLD BY POINT ZERO FOUR (.04) SECONDS.
HALL’S TIME OF 43 POINT 40 SECONDS (43.40) IS THE FOURTH FASTEST EVER IN THE EVENT.
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