Monday, December 19, 2022 |
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Monday, December 19, 2022 |
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Good Monday afternoon. The January 6th committee has recommended four criminal charges for former President Donald Trump, a major storm is expected to wreak havoc on holiday travel, and Elon Musk’s future at Twitter is up in the air after users voted for him to step down. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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January 6th committee recommends criminal charges for Trump |
The House select committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol made four criminal referrals to the Justice Department for former President Donald Trump, marking the conclusion of its 18-month investigation. The committee, during its final public meeting this afternoon, recommended Trump be prosecuted for inciting or assisting an insurrection, obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the government, and conspiracy to make a false statement. Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the committee, said that among the panel's “most shameful” findings was that Trump sat in the dining room off the Oval Office watching the riot on television as it unfolded. “No man who would behave that way, at that moment in time, can ever serve in any position of authority in our nation again. He is unfit for any office,” Cheney said. The panel’s move marks the first time in history that Congress has recommended a former president face criminal prosecution, though the Justice Department is not required to take action on its referrals, which are not legally binding. Special counsel Jack Smith was named last month to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the January 6th attack and the classified documents seized from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. The January 6th committee’s final report is expected to be released later this week. |
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State of emergency declared in El Paso before Title 42 expires |
El Paso’s mayor has declared a state of emergency over the rising number of migrants at the Texas border, days before the Trump-era policy known as Title 42 is set to expire. The U.S. has used Title 42 to expel more than 2.4 million migrants and asylum-seekers citing concerns over the Covid pandemic, after the Trump administration invoked it in March 2020. El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said more than 15,000 migrants have arrived in the last week, and city officials expect up to 6,000 to arrive a day after Title 42 is lifted. On Friday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block a lower court order lifting Title 42. Attorneys general from 19 Republican-led states had asked the appeals court to temporarily prevent the end of Title 42, and they are likely to appeal Friday’s ruling to the Supreme Court. |
Major winter storm expected to disrupt holiday travel |
A powerful winter storm system is expected to develop this week and have a major impact on holiday travel for millions of Americans. The system will begin organizing on Wednesday and bring snow and wind to the Rockies and Northern Plains. On Thursday, heavy snow and strong winds will push into the Midwest, Great Lakes and Central Plains, while rain will spread across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Friday looks to be the highest impact day, with snowfall across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes, along with strong winds in those regions and across the Northeast and New England. Torrential rain and strong winds are expected along the I-95 corridor, with the potential for snow on Friday as the storm exits and arctic air rushes in. Major airport hubs including Chicago, Atlanta, New York City and Boston, will likely see delays and cancellations from the storm just ahead of Christmas Eve. |
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Severe turbulence injures 20 people on Hawaiian Airlines flight |
At least 20 people were injured aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight when the plane encountered severe turbulence on Sunday, officials said. The flight out of Phoenix was about 30 minutes from its destination Honolulu when it struck the unstable patch of air, the FAA said in a statement. The plane was filled to capacity, with 278 passengers, eight flight attendants and two pilots on board, Hawaiian Airlines officials said. The plane shook violently enough to damage interior panels and cause head injuries for multiple people, airline officials said. At least some of those injured were not restrained properly, the officials said. Eleven were hospitalized in serious condition, an emergency services spokesperson said in a statement. Nine were stabilized at hospitals. Paramedics treated 16 others at the scene for minor issues, including nausea, the spokesman said. |
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What else we're watching: |
Twitter users voted for Elon Musk to step down as CEO of Twitter in a poll that he launched. The billionaire had said he would “abide by the results,” but it’s unclear whether he will. |
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was remanded back into Bahamian custody, after a chaotic court hearing where there appeared to be confusion over whether the former crypto mogul would waive his extradition rights. |
Robert DeNiro came downstairs in his bathrobe to find a woman stealing presents from under his Christmas tree, two police officials told NBC News New York. Police took the intruder into custody at the scene. |
A chainsaw-wielding man allegedly tried to force his way into a Massachusetts police station and was later arrested after he barricaded himself in his home for hours with his two young children, authorities said. |
Amber Heard will pay ex-husband Johnny Depp $1 million to settle their defamation battle, attorneys said. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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