The former Uvalde school police chief, Pete Arredondo, has been indicted on 10 counts of felony child endangerment/abandonment for his role in the slow police response to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. A grand jury also indicted former school officer Adrian Gonzales on similar charges. This makes them the first officers to face criminal charges in the tragedy that killed 19 children and two teachers.
In the ongoing legal battle over classified documents, a federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss charges against former President Donald Trump. The judge’s ruling keeps all 41 counts intact, including accusations of hoarding classified documents and conspiring to conceal them from the government. The defense had attempted to throw out several counts related to obstruction and false statements, but the judge determined that while there may be some confusion, it did not warrant dismissal at this stage.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and his wife, Imelda, have been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and bribery. The charges stem from an investigation into alleged bribes the couple accepted from an Azerbaijan-based energy company and a bank in Mexico City between 2014 and 2021. The indictments allege that Cuellar used his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank in exchange for the bribes. Cuellar has denied the allegations and has stated that he and his wife are innocent. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., has become the first House Democrat to call on Cuellar to resign.
Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas will face indictment from the Department of Justice, according to sources. The specific charges are yet to be disclosed but are anticipated to be made public on Friday. The indictment stems from an ongoing investigation into a group of American businessmen and their alleged ties to Azerbaijan. In 2022, federal authorities conducted a raid on Cuellar’s residence and office as part of the investigation. Cuellar and his staff have agreed to cooperate with the inquiry, which has included subpoenas for the congressman, his spouse, and associates. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing and asserted that he has acted solely to serve the people of Texas throughout his tenure in Congress. He has specifically defended his wife’s qualifications, emphasizing her accomplishments in business and her contributions to the community.
In his opening statement, Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, dismissed the 34-count indictment as mere “pieces of paper,” asserting Trump’s innocence and arguing that the payments were not illegal. Blanche portrayed Trump as a family man and a victim of political prosecution, while discrediting the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen.
Sabah Al-Salem Haniyeh, the sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, has been indicted on charges of inciting terrorism in Israel. Haniyeh was arrested on April 1 by Israeli Police and Shin Bet in a joint operation. The indictment alleges that Haniyeh used social media to spread messages inciting violence and hatred against Israelis.
