President Biden Says He Hasn't Had Occasion to Visit East Palestine

Biden Asserts Executive Privilege Over Audio of Interview With Robert Hur

Biden Asserts Executive Privilege , Over Audio of Interview With Robert Hur. In February, Hur's yearlong investigation into whether President Biden mishandled classified documents ended without enough evidence to support criminal charges. In February, Hur's yearlong investigation into whether President Biden mishandled classified documents ended without enough evidence to support criminal charges. House Republicans were provided a transcript of Biden's interview with Hur, but they wanted the audio, which the DOJ denied. As a result, House Republicans were moving to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. On May 16, the Department of Justice told House Republicans that the president asserted executive privilege over audio from his interview with the special counsel. The move protects Garland from criminal exposure as GOP lawmakers seek to hold him accountable. Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte explained the DOJ's actions in a letter. The Attorney General must draw a line that safeguards the Department from improper political influence and protects our principles, our law enforcement work, and the people who carry out that work independently, without fear or favor, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, via letter . The Committees seek to hold the Attorney General in contempt not for failing in his duties, but for upholding them, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, via letter . With the information you now have, the Committees ought not to proceed with contempt and should instead avoid unnecessary and unwarranted conflict, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, via letter . White House Counsel Ed Siskel also wrote a letter supporting the assertion of executive privilege. . The absence of a legitimate need for the audio recordings lays bare your likely goal—to chop them up, distort them, and use them for partisan political purposes, White House Counsel Ed Siskel, via letter

Norfolk Southern Offers Settlement to Resolve Lawsuits Related to 2023 Derailment

Norfolk Southern Offers , Settlement to Resolve Lawsuits , Related to 2023 Derailment. Train operator Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million as part of a settlement to a class-action lawsuit as part of a February 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Train operator Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million as part of a settlement to a class-action lawsuit as part of a February 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Associated Press reports that the agreement, which would resolve all class action lawsuits within a 20-mile radius from the derailment, is still pending court approval. Associated Press reports that the agreement, which would resolve all class action lawsuits within a 20-mile radius from the derailment, is still pending court approval. According to the agreement, the settlement would also resolve personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius of the accident site for residents choosing to participate. According to the agreement, the settlement would also resolve personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius of the accident site for residents choosing to participate. On April 9, Norfolk Southern said that the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability or fault for the fiery crash. The East Palestine derailment has already cost Norfolk Southern over $1.1 billion, including $104 million in aid for residents and the town. . The East Palestine derailment has already cost Norfolk Southern over $1.1 billion, including $104 million in aid for residents and the town. . AP reports that while the company has promised to create a fund to help pay for the community's long-term health needs, that fund has yet to be created. . AP reports that while the company has promised to create a fund to help pay for the community's long-term health needs, that fund has yet to be created. . Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said that the railroad operator is, “becoming a more productive and efficient railroad. . There is still more work to be done to achieve industry-competitive margins, Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern CEO, via Associated Press. There is still more work to be done to achieve industry-competitive margins, Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern CEO, via Associated Press. The operator reported preliminary Q1 earnings of 23 cents per share, reflecting the impact of the settlement and cleanup costs for the derailment.

This Day in History: Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, Dies

This Day in History: , Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, Dies. May 17, 2012. The 63-year-old singer and songwriter died in Naples, FL, from non-smoking related lung cancer. The disco diva rose to fame in the 1970s, with hits like "Hot Stuff" and "Last Dance.". As disco's popularity waned, Summer wrote songs for several different genres. Her song, "Starting Over Again," for Dolly Parton was a number-one country single in 1980. Her 1983 hit, "She Works Hard for the Money," became a pop-rock feminist anthem. Summer was a five-time Grammy winner, who's been sampled by artists from Beyonce to the Pet Shop Boys. The mother of three was buried in Nashville, her home since the 1990s