INDEPENDENT Evening Headlines, Friday September 22, 2023 : Senator Robert Menendez charged for federal corruption and bribery and more...

 

The Independent’s Evening Headlines <newsletters@email.independent.co.uk>	12:30 AM (10 hours ago)
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Friday, September 22, 2023 1/ Senator Robert Menendez charged for federal corruption and bribery after $580k of cash and gold found at home A federal grand jury indictment has charged US Senator Robert Menendez with bribery and corruption charges connecting the Democratic leader of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee and his wife to several alleged schemes with New Jersey businessmen. The indictment unsealed in US District Court in Manhattan on 22 September also names the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes, and associates Wael Hana and Jose Uribe. Prosecutors allege the couple enjoyed a “corrupt relationship” with their New Jersey associates to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from at least 2018 up until about 2022 in exchange for a wide range of alleged schemes, including secretly providing sensitive government information to Egypt and influencing criminal investigations. Authorities have seized $100,000 worth of gold bars and more than $480,000 in cash, mostly stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe at their home and bank, according to the indictment.   2/ Biden ‘finally’ launches White House office on gun violence prevention Newly launched federal office will respond to deadly gun epidemic 3/ Putin’s Black Sea navy HQ hit in missile strike as Kyiv breaches frontline defences Ukraine strikes key military base in Sevastopol in occupied Crimea 4/ Woman claims she accidentally stabbed baby while aiming for dog A moment of anger over a dog grabbing a Burger King treat escalated at Midwest hotel 5/  America’s biggest true crime fanatics are gearing up for their Super Bowl CrimeCon brings thousands of true crime fanatics together THE BIG QUESTION Who is Lachlan Murdoch? Heir apparent anointed king of News Corp In 2015, Rupert Murdoch was seeking to secure his legacy along with the multi-billion dollar media empire that he had built up from a single regional newspaper in his native Australia.   That year, the then 84-year-old patriarch appointed his eldest son Lachlan and middle son James as co-chairmen of the family’s Hollywood production company 21st Century Fox, a hint of the succession drama that had been brewing ever since the brothers used to cheat at Monopoly as children. This contrasted with James’ tendency to be more aloof and with a growing distaste for the right-wing politics that his family was synonymous with.   Within five years James had quit the family business, writing in a terse exit letter in 2020 that his decision was due to “disagreements over certain editorial content” and “certain other strategic decisions.” Lachlan has now been officially anointed as his father’s heir apparent and, with Rupert Murdoch’s decision to step down in November, he will assume sole control of the vast media empire as chair of News Corp while staying on as CEO and chair of Fox Corp. So who exactly is he? Read more Watch / John Fetterman gets emotional describing ‘ridicule’ he faces after stroke NUMBER OF THE DAY 33% The rise in attempted book bannings in US public libraries over the course of the last school year. Read more QUOTE OF THE DAY “Why did no one else tell me that? I’m not wearing this thing.” Donald Trump’s alleged reaction, according to former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, after he discovered that wearing a Covid mask during the pandemic caused his bronzer to smear onto the straps, risking the exposure of his use of artificial tan. Read more OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE  Biden tells Zelensky US will give Ukraine coveted ATACMS long-range missiles Crocodiles push stray dog to safety after it falls into danger-filled river Karine Jean-Pierre loses patience with Fox News’ Peter Doocy Geoffrey Macnab: The secret life of Sly Stallone, still Hollywood’s top action hero The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247