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Trump says intel doesn’t support report on Russian bounties against US troops
President Trump late Sunday said U.S. intelligence could not confirm an explosive story that Russian military officials offered bounties to militants linked to the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The New York Times, citing unnamed officials, reported Friday that it is believed that some “Islamist militants” or “criminal elements” collected payouts. The report pointed out that 20 Americans were killed there in 2019. It was not clear if any of those deaths were the result of a bounty.
“Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @NYTimesbnooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad.”
TASS, the state news agency, reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry called the reports “information fakes.” A Taliban spokesman also denied any truth to the report.
Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank, told the Wall Street Journal that “Moscow’s willingness to embrace the Taliban openly and publicly dates back several years” and he would not be surprised if there is truth to the report. Click here for more on our top story.
Other related developments:
- Top conservatives demand answers on reports Russia paid Taliban to kill US troops
- Lawmakers want answers from Trump administration
- Bolton blasts Trump for denying he was briefed on Russia offering bounties to Taliban to kill US troops
Vice President Mike Pence makes remarks as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott looks on during a news conference after Pence met with Abbott and members of his healthcare team regarding COVID-19. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Pence commits resources after Texas governor notes coronavirus outbreak's 'very swift and very dangerous turn'
Vice President Mike Pence pledged additional resources and testing Sunday after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott described “the very swift and very dangerous turn” of the coronavirus.
Pence had canceled appearances in Florida and Arizona as each state has seen a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases. However, a representative for Pence said the vice president still planned to travel to Texas, Florida and Arizona to meet with governors.
“President Trump wanted us to be here today with the developments over the last two weeks with the rising positivity and the rising number of cases with a very simple message and that is to use people of Texas: We’re with you,” Pence said during a news conference with Abbott on Sunday.
Pence stressed that citizens should “wear a mask,” stressing that experience showed that wearing them “will slow the spread.” Click here for more.
Other related developments:
- Calif. Gov. Newsom orders bars closed in counties including Los Angeles, citing coronavirus
- Pediatrics group urges 'goal' of students 'physically present in school' this fall
- Worldwide coronavirus deaths pass 500,000 mark, Johns Hopkins University research shows
- Coronavirus led to surge in Alzheimer’s deaths
A Mississippi state flag waves adjacent to a flag change supporter's sign that welcomes the state to "the right side of history," outside the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Sunday, June 28, 2020, while lawmakers are expected to consider state flag change legislation. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has already said he would sign whatever flag bill the Legislature decides on. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi lawmakers vote to remove Confederate battle emblem from its flags
Mississippi's House and Senate lawmakers on Sunday voted with bipartisan support to change the state flag by removing a Confederate battle emblem that's broadly condemned as racist.
The House passed a bill 91-23 Sunday afternoon, and the Senate passed it 37-14 later in the day.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has said he will sign the bill, and the state flag will lose its official status as soon as he signs it. A commission would design a new flag that would not include the Confederate symbol and which must include the words "In God We Trust," according to the bill. Click here to read more.
Other related developments:
- Activist suggests replacing DC's Emancipation Memorial with Harriet Tubman monument: 'Fair and equitable'
- Montana man charged with toppling Ten Commandments monument
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