August 1, 2023 - Your Morning Digest

Indictment watch continues, Ukraine strikes Moscow, and more in this morning's digest

Today is August 1, 2023, and here is all the news you need to know about. If you enjoy my newsletter, please consider a monthly subscription to support my work, get access to exclusive content, and more.

1) Indictment Watch Continues

We are on indictment watch this morning as a third indictment of Donald Trump is possible either in Georgia or in Washington, D.C. Based on prior weeks, it is likely that the Washington, D.C. grand jury investigating Donald Trump will be meeting today to continue hearing evidence or potentially vote on an indictment. For the record, news trucks continue to line up outside of the courthouse, with more activity this past weekend. Donald Trump’s have already been notified that they should expect an indictment in the January 6th investigation, so it is just a matter of time until one is issued. However, an indictment is not guaranteed, and it is possible the grand jury will hear more evidence this week from Trump-related witnesses prior to issuing an indictment.

The grand jury is considering three primary charges: (1) 18 U.S.C. § 371, conspiracy against the United States; (2) 18 U.S.C. § 1512 or 1513, witness tampering; and (3) 18 U.S.C. § 242 the deprivation of rights under the color of law, or the conspiracy to do the same. Each of these statutes are punishable by significant prison time, and the guidelines for Trump, if convicted, will call for prison time.

Unlike in D.C., in Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis has announced that charges will come before September 1st in her investigation into election interference during the 2020 election. She is considering several charges ranging from solicitation all the way to racketeering charges. Barriers have been erected outside of the Fulton County courthouse, and, unlike in D.C., charges are guaranteed in Georgia. The only question is who will be charged and what charges will be brought.

Once an indictment is issued, Donald Trump will travel to either Washington, D.C. or Georgia for an arraignment at which point he will enter a plea to the charges in the indictment. One important note, unlike Florida and New York, Donald Trump does not have a home base in neither D.C. nor Georgia. In the event an indictment is issued in D.C., I will report live from the courthouse and provide you updates as we learn them. Stay tuned for more.

2) Ukraine Strikes Moscow

Overnight, Ukraine struck Moscow again. Ukrainian drones struck the exact same high rise building Ukraine struck on Sunday. President Zelensky has asserted that Russia will now feel what it’s like to have the war reach its front doorsteps. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, a close advisor to Zelensky, said “Moscow is rapidly getting used to a full-fledged war.”

This latest attack comes as Former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a veiled nuclear threat to Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe. He asserted that if the Ukrainian offensive was successful in capturing land in the southeast, Russia will have no other option than to utilize strategic nuclear weapons. One note here, air raid sirens have not gone off in Moscow during any one of these drone strikes. If your citizens were under attack, why wouldn’t you notify them? Just something to think about this morning.

3) Situation in Niger Worsens

The situation in Niger continues to deteriorate as the Military Junta currently in control of the country asserted that France is planning on launching airstrikes around the country to restore order and restore recently deposed-President, Mohamed Bazoum. Meanwhile, France announced that it will be evacuating all citizens from Niger. Additionally, Niger's new post-coup leaders have officially suspended the export of uranium and gold to France, in a major blow to the French economy.

As a result of the coup, he ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) which includes a military rapid-reaction force used by the economic community of West African states has reportedly been placed into an “Combat-Alert Status.” Now, multiple African countries are drawing lines in the sand with Mali, Ghana, and Burkina Faso announcing they will not intervene in Niger if asked, while Nigeria asserting the country will intervene if asked to protect democracy in Niger. This situation is worsening with each passing day, and I will provide you an update as we learn more.

4) More War Crimes From Russia

In a new report published by Russia, Russia’s ombudswoman, Maria Lvova-Belova, who has a pending arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, asserted that more than 700,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia since the war began early last year. In total, the report suggested that over 4.8 million Ukrainian residents were taken into Russia since last February and that some of these children were placed with foster parents in Russian households. This mass deportation of children is a war crime, one that Lvova-Belova and Vladimir Putin must be held accountable for. Stay tuned for more.