Mar 6, 2019

Former congressman strikes deal on campaign finance charges

Former Rep. Aaron Schock walks up the Capitol steps. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Prosecutors on Wednesday dropped all criminal charges against former Republican congressman Aaron Schock, who was charged in 2016 with misspending campaign and government money for his personal benefit, the Washington Post reports.

Details: Schock's charges will be dropped only when he reimburses his campaign committees nearly $68,000 and pays back taxes. His campaign committee will "plead guilty to violating the record-keeping provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act," the Post reports, adding Schock's original 2016 indictment "accused him of wire fraud, mail fraud theft of government money, making false statements and filing false documents."

Go deeper

Rashaan Ayesh
Updated 57 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Primary races to watch in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Washington

Photo: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

Primary elections on Tuesday in fives states see crowded fields of both Republicans and Democrats hoping to make the ballot in 2020.

What to watch: Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) is "fighting for her political life" in a tight primary race against Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, who Tlaib beat by 900 votes in 2018, The New York Times writes. Senate Republicans are also watching the primary race in Kansas to see who could replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 8:30 p.m. ET: 18,448,084 — Total deaths: 698,023 — Total recoveries — 11,048,174 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 8:30 p.m. ET: 4,765,170 — Total deaths: 156,668 — Total recoveries: 1,528,979 — Total tests: 57,543,852 — Map.
  3. States: New York City health commissioner resigns in protest of De Blasio's coronavirus response — Local governments go to war over schools.
  4. Public health: 59% of Americans support nationwide 2-week stay-at-home order in NPR poll.
  5. Politics: Trump's national security adviser returns to work after coronavirus recovery — Republicans push to expand small business loan program.
  6. Sports: Indy 500 to be held without fans — Rafael Nadal opts out of U.S. Open.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Dave Lawler
Updated 4 hours ago - World

At least 50 killed, 3,000 injured after massive explosion rocks Beirut

Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

A major explosion has slammed central Beirut, Lebanon, damaging buildings as far as several miles away and injuring scores of people.

Driving the news: Lebanon's health minister said in televised remarks that more than 50 people have been killed and over 3,000 injured. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the explosions occurred at a warehouse that had been storing 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate for the past six years, per NBC.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow