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WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge is demanding more information about President Donald Trump’s decision to commute the prison sentence of longtime ally Roger Stone. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered that the parties provide her with a copy of the executive order that commuted Stone’s sentence. She also asked for clarity about the scope of the clemency, including whether it covers just his 40-month prison sentence or also the two-year period of supervised release that was part of his sentence. Hours after the judge’s directive, the Justice Department submitted to the court a two-page order making clear that the clemency extended to both Stone’s prison sentence and his supervised release.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is working to undercut its most trusted coronavirus expert as President Donald Trump continues to play down the threat posed by the virus and pushes to reopen the economy before the election. Trump and other White House officials have been ramping up their attacks against Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, who has been sounding alarms about spiking cases. Trump suggests the severity of the pandemic that has killed more than 135,000 Americans is being overstated by critics to damage his reelection chances.
UNDATED (AP) — Hawaii’s governor says he will wait another month to waive a 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers who test negative for COVID-19, citing an increasing number of cases locally, “uncontrolled” outbreaks in several U.S. mainland states and a shortage of testing supplies. The testing plan, as announced last month, was scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1. It's now postponed to Sept. 1. Many in Hawaii’s business community had been looking forward to the program as it would make it easier for tourists to visit and boost the economy. The quarantine requirement has virtually shut down tourism since it took effect in late March.
NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News' Tucker Carlson is denouncing his former top writer, who resigned late last week after CNN revealed that the staff member had posted bigoted and vulgar comments online under an assumed name. The evening news host says Blake Neff's comments were wrong and had nothing to do with his show. But Carlson is also criticizing the “ghouls now beating their chests in triumph” at Neff's downfall. He says people who pose as blameless in order to hurt other people will be punished for it. Carlson also says he will be taking a planned vacation to go trout fishing.
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are falling as skepticism sets in about the recent upward momentum in global markets. Adding to jitters that extended from Wall Street into Asian trading on Tuesday was the White House’s decision to reject nearly all Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea. The world’s largest economies have been sparring over everything from the pandemic to human rights. Benchmarks in Japan, South Korea and China fell. The benchmark S&P 500 lost 0.9% on Monday on heavy selling of technology stocks that recently have pushed share prices higher despite worsening coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S. and elsewhere.
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