National

Former President Trump is “politically, morally responsible” for the Jan. 6 insurrection, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Why it matters: Hutchinson, who's been among the few elected Republicans to repeatedly criticize Trump, said his party needs to do some “soul-searching” more than a year on after the deadly attack. 

The governor said he doesn't think the former president bears criminal responsibility. 

What he's saying: “Republicans need to do a lot of soul-searching as to what is the right thing here and what is the right thing for our democracy in the future and not simply adhere to the basic instincts of some of our base,” he said.

The backdrop: The Jan. 6 committee hearing, which held its first hearing during prime time last week, is seeking to prove Trump's culpability for the attack by tying it to a plan to overturn the 2020 election and prevent the transition of power to then-President-elect Biden.

Go deeper: 3 former DOJ officials to testify in the next Jan. 6 hearing

GOP governor says Trump “politically, morally responsible” for Jan. 6

“Republicans need to do a lot of soul searching as to what is the right thing here."

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Photo: Liz Sanders/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Jan. 6

Donald Trump

Former President Trump is “politically, morally responsible” for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jan. 6 insurrection" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/10/jan-6-committee-plan-trump-culpability" data-vars-content-id="76490886-8f7e-447f-8c5c-550e99fa8829" data-vars-headline="GOP governor says Trump “politically, morally responsible” for Jan. 6" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/10/jan-6-committee-plan-trump-culpability" target="_self">Jan. 6 insurrection</a>, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on “<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fox News Sunday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-hutchinson-trump-responsible-jan-6-criminally" data-vars-content-id="76490886-8f7e-447f-8c5c-550e99fa8829" data-vars-headline="GOP governor says Trump “politically, morally responsible” for Jan. 6" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-hutchinson-trump-responsible-jan-6-criminally" target="_blank">Fox News Sunday</a>.”Why it matters: Hutchinson, who&#x27;s been among the few elected Republicans to repeatedly criticize Trump, said his party needs to do some “soul-searching” more than a year on after the deadly attack.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday declined to endorse President Biden if he runs for reelection in 2024, telling CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." 

The big picture: Biden has indicated he plans to run in 2024. But some Democrats have grown wary of that prospect as the president has faced low approval ratings and economic pressures, all while struggling to enact key pieces of his agenda, the New York Times reports. 

David Axelrod, who was chief strategist for former President Obama’s two winning presidential campaigns, told the Times Biden's age would be a liability if he runs.

What she's saying: "I mean first of all I'm focused on winning this majority right now and preserving a majority in 2022, so we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Ocasio-Cortez told host Dana Bash when asked if she'd endorse the president.

"But I think if the president has a vision, then that's something we're certainly willing to entertain and examine when the time comes," she said. "I think we should endorse when we get to it." 

"But I believe that the president is doing a very good job so far and should he run again I think that I — We'll take a look at it."

Go deeper: Axios midterm election issues dashboard

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declines to endorse Biden for 2024

Biden has indicated he plans to run in 2024. But a new report indicates some Democrats have grown wary of that prospect.

Joe Biden

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on CNN's June 12, 2022 episode of 'State of the Union.'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday declined to endorse President Biden if he runs for reelection in 2024, telling CNN&#x27;s &quot;State of the Union&quot; on Sunday &quot;we&#x27;ll cross that bridge when we get to it.&quot; The big picture: Biden has indicated he <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans to run in 2024" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/25/biden-trump-2024-election" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/25/biden-trump-2024-election" target="_self">plans to run in 2024</a>. But some Democrats have grown wary of that prospect as the president has faced <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="low approval ratings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/22/biden-approval-poll-pessimistic" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/22/biden-approval-poll-pessimistic" target="_self">low approval ratings</a> and economic pressures, all while struggling to enact key pieces of his agenda, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York Times reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/11/us/politics/biden-2024-election-democrats.html" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/11/us/politics/biden-2024-election-democrats.html" target="_blank">New York Times reports</a>.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan, police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya after a traffic stop in April has been fired, City Manager Mark Washington said in a statement Wednesday.

Details: The termination took place on June 10 after the former officer, Christopher Schurr, waived his right to a discharge hearing, per the statement. The incident drew national attention after videos of Lyoya's final moments were made public.  

The videos showed Schurr lying on the back of Lyoya, 26, before Schurr fatally shot him in the head. 

Driving the news: Schurr was charged with second-degree murder in Kent County last week. 

Michigan police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya is fired

The incident drew national attention after videos of Lyoya's final moments were made public.

An image of Patrick Lyoya is seen on a sweater as protesters march in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., on April 16. Photo: Mustafa Hussain/AFP via Getty Images

Police

The Grand Rapids, Michigan, police officer who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shot and killed Patrick Lyoya" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/14/michigan-police-officer-shooting-patrick-lyoya" data-vars-content-id="dd33a576-75bc-4b0b-b801-73e94016a1c5" data-vars-headline="Michigan police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya is fired" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/14/michigan-police-officer-shooting-patrick-lyoya" target="_self">shot and killed Patrick Lyoya</a> after a traffic stop in April has been fired, City Manager Mark Washington <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said in a statement Wednesday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Our-City/News-Media/June-15-Statement-from-City-Manager-Mark-Washington" data-vars-content-id="dd33a576-75bc-4b0b-b801-73e94016a1c5" data-vars-headline="Michigan police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya is fired" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Our-City/News-Media/June-15-Statement-from-City-Manager-Mark-Washington" target="_blank">said in a statement Wednesday</a>.Details: The termination took place on June 10 after the former officer, Christopher Schurr, waived his right to a discharge hearing, per the statement. The incident drew national attention after videos of Lyoya&#x27;s final moments were made public. <ul><li>The videos showed Schurr lying on the back of Lyoya, 26, before Schurr fatally shot him in the head. </li></ul>Driving the news: Schurr was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="charged with second-degree murder" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/09/michigan-police-charge-murder-patrick-lyoya" data-vars-content-id="dd33a576-75bc-4b0b-b801-73e94016a1c5" data-vars-headline="Michigan police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya is fired" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/09/michigan-police-charge-murder-patrick-lyoya" target="_self">charged with second-degree murder</a> in Kent County last week.

The FBI last week seized the phone of John Eastman, a former attorney for President Trump who helped advise on efforts to overturn the 2020 election, CNN first reported.

Driving the news: Eastman's lawyer revealed the seizure in a court filing Monday, calling the FBI's action unlawful. The filing seeks to have the Department of Justice return the phone and destroy copies of anything that was retrieved from it. 

The lawsuit claims the FBI carried out the seizure on the behalf of the DOJ's Inspector General's office. Eastman says that office overstepped its authority because he does not work for the DOJ.

Details: Federal agents served Eastman with a warrant while he was eating at a New Mexico restaurant with friends, according to the filing. Eastman's attorney said the agents "forced" him to unlock his iPhone with his biometric data and used that to access his email accounts. 

The big picture: Eastman, a conservative lawyer, championed a theory that underpinned Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election — that the vice president could unilaterally reject electors. 

In a hearing this month, the Jan. 6 select committee revealed that Eastman sought a presidential pardon in the aftermath of the riot.

A judge in March said Eastman and Trump "launched a campaign to overturn a democratic election, an action unprecedented in American history" and the plan was  "a coup in search of a legal theory,"

Court filing reveals FBI seized John Eastman's phone

Eastman is a former attorney for President Trump who helped advise on efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Photo: Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The FBI last week seized the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" phone of John Eastman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/28/judge-trump-eastman-documents-jan-6-committee" data-vars-content-id="e8992dee-05d5-4d0b-ba63-3a86dae44e7e" data-vars-headline="Court filing reveals FBI seized John Eastman&#x27;s phone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/28/judge-trump-eastman-documents-jan-6-committee" target="_self"> phone of John Eastman</a>, a former attorney for President Trump who helped advise on efforts to overturn the 2020 election, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNN first reported." data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/27/politics/john-eastman-search-phone-january-6/index.html" data-vars-content-id="e8992dee-05d5-4d0b-ba63-3a86dae44e7e" data-vars-headline="Court filing reveals FBI seized John Eastman&#x27;s phone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/27/politics/john-eastman-search-phone-january-6/index.html" target="_blank">CNN first reported.</a>Driving the news: Eastman&#x27;s lawyer revealed the seizure in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="court filing Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22071050-john-eastman-court-filing" data-vars-content-id="e8992dee-05d5-4d0b-ba63-3a86dae44e7e" data-vars-headline="Court filing reveals FBI seized John Eastman&#x27;s phone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22071050-john-eastman-court-filing" target="_blank">court filing Monday</a>, calling the FBI&#x27;s action unlawful. The filing seeks to have the Department of Justice return the phone and destroy copies of anything that was retrieved from it.

Axios Gaming

GameStop chief financial officer Mike Recupero is headed for the exit, and the gaming giant will lay off "a number of" employees as it strives for "sustained profitability," CEO Matt Furlong wrote in a memo to employees obtained by Axios. 

Why it matters: Furlong said the move is aimed at reducing costs and shifting toward an "intense owner's mentality" for the failing-business-turned-meme-stock. GameStop has been hemorrhaging cash while promising better days ahead.

Details: Recupero will be replaced as CFO by chief accounting officer Diana Jajeh as the company pursues growth in sales and launching new products, Furlong wrote. 

Furlong said the cuts come after the company hired more than 600 workers in 2021 and the first half of 2022. Leaders are now in a better position to understand its "transformation needs," he said. 

GamesStop will lay off employees at its publication Game Informer as well.

The company will also make "significant investment" in store leaders and employees, which Furlong called "the heart of GameStop."

What he's saying: "Everyone in the organization must become even more hands-on and embrace a heightened level of accountability for results," Furlong wrote in the memo. 

The CEO said he's confident with the team the company has going forward. 

GameStop CFO out as company announces layoffs

The move is aimed at reducing costs and shifting toward an "intense owner's mentality."

Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

GameStop

Gaming

GameStop chief financial officer Mike Recupero is headed for the exit, and the gaming giant will lay off &quot;a number of&quot; employees as it strives for &quot;sustained profitability,&quot; CEO Matt Furlong wrote in a memo to employees obtained by Axios. Why it matters: Furlong said the move is aimed at reducing costs and shifting toward an &quot;intense owner&#x27;s mentality&quot; for the failing-business-<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="turned-meme-stock" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/stock-market-gamestop-reddit-exposed-d7eb06e2-f6c7-4aa8-99d7-24a51df27fa9.html" data-vars-content-id="f95eb7e2-ae29-44f6-91d1-de005ff1cbf0" data-vars-headline="GameStop CFO out as company announces layoffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/stock-market-gamestop-reddit-exposed-d7eb06e2-f6c7-4aa8-99d7-24a51df27fa9.html" target="_self">turned-meme-stock</a>. GameStop has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hemorrhaging cash" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/12/09/gamestop-asks-for-patience" data-vars-content-id="f95eb7e2-ae29-44f6-91d1-de005ff1cbf0" data-vars-headline="GameStop CFO out as company announces layoffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/12/09/gamestop-asks-for-patience" target="_self">hemorrhaging cash</a> while promising better days ahead.

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

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GameStop CFO out as company announces layoffs

Court filing reveals FBI seized John Eastman's phone

Michigan police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya is fired

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declines to endorse Biden for 2024

GOP governor says Trump “politically, morally responsible” for Jan. 6