Tuesday Afternoon Update: Trump Officially Arrested, Passport Delays, Google Cutbacks

This article is a summary of today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To hear the podcast version, click here.

Trump Arrested

Former President Donald Trump arrived at the Manhattan Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon and was immediately arrested by New York City Police following his indictment last week. However, he was not handcuffed and did not have his mugshot taken. Trump pleaded not guilty on his own behalf. His legal team has requested a change of venue to Staten Island for the trial. Before his arrival, Trump shared on social media, “Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

Protesters and Supporters Gather in Manhattan

The streets of Lower Manhattan were busy with activity ahead of Trump’s arraignment. A group of his supporters and counter-protesters gathered and, in some cases, clashed outside the courthouse. Journalists had been lined up outside the building since Monday night, and there was a heavy law enforcement presence. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is leading the case against Trump, arrived at the courthouse before much of the commotion. Two high-profile Republican members of Congress, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and George Santos (R-NY), made public appearances to voice their support for Trump.

When the former president left Trump Tower to head to the courthouse, he put his fist in the air as a show of strength to his supporters. However, television cameras will not be allowed inside the courtroom for the historic occasion.

Democrats in Tennessee Could be Expelled

Three Democrat lawmakers in Tennessee could lose their jobs following a recent protest inside the Tennessee statehouse. Resolutions of expulsion were filed against Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson after they led chants from the House floor with protesters in the gallery last Thursday. The announcment sparked outrage among those watching in the gallery, leading the house speaker to call for the gallery to be cleared. During the incident, lawmakers, including Jones and Republican Justin Lafferty, engaged in a confrontation on the House floor. House Speaker Cameron Sexton confirmed that the three lawmakers had been stripped of their committee assignments and said more punishments could be on the way.

Ex-Top Aide to Larry Hogan Dead

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s ex-chief of staff, Roy McGrath, who has been on the run for three weeks after failing to appear at trial for wire fraud and embezzlement charges, died after being apprehended Monday by law enforcement in Knoxville, Tennessee. The FBI said an “agent-involved shooting” was under review but gave no further details. McGrath’s lawyer, Joseph Murtha, called it “a tragic ending to three weeks of uncertainty” and said Roy had “never wavered about his innocence.”

Passport Delays

Americans seeking to renew their passports ahead of planned summer travel are experiencing shockingly long wait times. The State Department is taking between 10 and 13 weeks to process routine passport applications. Expedited applications are currently taking between 7 and 9 weeks. The Bureau of Consular Affairs warned that the State Department may also take as many as 2 weeks to receive mailed applications and another 2 weeks for the completed passport to be mailed back to the holder. The government is blaming pent-up demand following COVID lockdowns and restricted travel for the delays.

Google Cutbacks

Google workers will lose access to company-provided fitness classes, MicroKitchens, and other famous perks as the company tries to cut costs amid efforts to increase profitability. Google CEO Sundar Pichai informed the company earlier this year that some 12,000 positions would be eliminated, but a recent internal memo sent to Google employees noted that the “challenging economic environment” would now necessitate changes to the company’s cost structure. Self-proclaimed “industry-leading perks, benefits, and office amenities” at Google will be scaled back to reduce expenses. Google is the latest tech company to make changes to its operating structure.

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