Tuesday Update: Hunter Biden Plea Deal, Titanic Sub Still Missing, Mississippi Tornadoes.

Tim MeadsJune 20, 2023

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

Hunter Biden Plea Deal

Hunter Biden has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors on charges relating to tax crimes and the illegal possession of a firearm.

Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two charges regarding his failure to pay about $1.2 million in taxes in 2017 and 2018. In exchange, prosecutors will reportedly ask that he receive two years probation with no jail time. Biden will also admit to the illegal purchase of a firearm in 2018, and enter a diversion program typical of drug abusers. The felony gun charge will be wiped from his record if he successfully completes the program. The White House issued a short statement in response, saying: “The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.” Critics accused the Justice Department of violating its own internal policies. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley weighed in on Hunter’s plea deal on Fox this morning:

Jonathan Turley on Hunter Biden’s plea agreement: “For many, this is gonna look like you ticketed the getaway driver after a bank robbery.” pic.twitter.com/yvX7wskpIT

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 20, 2023

For more on this story, tune in to tomorrow morning’s episode of Morning Wire.

Trump Trial Date Set

The trial for former President Donald Trump over his alleged mishandling of classified documents has been set for August 14.

The date was set by Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Trump is facing 37 counts of wrongdoing and is accused of the willful retention of national defense information, corruptly concealing documents or records, and making false statements. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and said the prosecution is politically motivated.

Titanic Tourist Sub Still Missing

The search for a submersible vessel that went missing on its descent down to the wreckage of the Titanic earlier this week continues as time is running out. That sub, which reportedly costs a quarter of a million dollars per passenger, lost contact with a surface ship on Sunday, sparking a massive manhunt. All five people on board the missing Titanic submersible have been identified, and they include a seasoned diver and maritime expert, a father/son duo who are members of one of Pakistan’s wealthiest families, and the CEO of the company in charge of the voyage. According to experts, those on board have until Thursday before they run out of oxygen inside the sub that is as big as a mini-van.

Mississippi Tornadoes

Several tornadoes touched down across Mississippi overnight Monday leaving at least one person dead and many others injured. According to officials, emergency workers were still in the process of assessing damage from earlier storms. The death and nearly two dozen injuries that were reported happened in eastern Mississippi’s Jasper County. The small, rural town of Louin was one of the hardest hit. Drone footage and photos showed wide expanses of debris-covered terrain, decimated homes, and mangled trees.

Federal Commission On AI?

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are considering the creation of a federal commission to develop a strategy for regulating artificial intelligence. Democrat Congressman Ted Lieu of California and Republican Congressman Ken Buck of Colorado introduced the bill on Tuesday that would require Congress and the White House to create the 20-person regulatory commission. According to The Washington Post, the body would be made up of individuals across government, industry, civil society, and the computer science field. The legislation comes after top tech gurus, including Elon Musk, have called for government regulation of AI.