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How a trusted FBI source became the center of a Washington scandal

By Evan Perez and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Alexander Smirnov was initially prized by the FBI as a solid source who had relationships with corrupt foreign business and government officials, but his appeal grew when he revealed he also had connections with foreign intelligence services, according to multiple sources. The FBI’s management of Smirnov is drawing fresh scrutiny

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Negotiators race to secure Israel-Hamas hostage and ceasefire deal ahead of Ramadan

By MJ Lee and Alex Marquardt, CNN (CNN) — The Biden administration is racing against the clock as it attempts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war before Ramadan next month, with senior US officials believing that the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza is the only plausible way to bring the first pause to the deadly conflict since a seven-day truce in

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Bidens’ dog, Commander, bit Secret Service personnel in at least 24 incidents, records show

By Camila DeChalus and Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — Commander Biden, President Joe Biden’s family dog, bit US Secret Service personnel in at least 24 incidents at the White House and other locations, according to new internal USSS documents obtained by CNN. That number does not include additional incidents CNN has previously reported involving executive residence

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Biden considering new executive action to restrict asylum at the border, sources say

By Priscilla Alvarez and MJ Lee, CNN (CNN) — The White House is considering executive action to restrict migrants’ ability to seek asylum at the US-Mexico border if they crossed illegally – a maneuver reminiscent of controversial action from the Donald Trump era and is sure to invite fierce backlash from immigration advocates and progressives. The handling of the

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Rick Perry Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here is a look at the life of former US Secretary of Energy and former Texas Governor Rick Perry. Personal Birth date: March 4, 1950 Birth place: Paint Creek, Texas Birth name: James Richard Perry Father: Joseph Ray Perry, a farmer Mother: Amelia (Holt) Perry Marriage: Anita (Thigpen) Perry (November

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James Biden grilled behind closed doors in critical interview with Republicans as GOP looks for lifeline in impeachment probe

CNN By Annie Grayer, CNN House Republicans are entering a critical phase of their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as a pair of high stakes interviews with the president’s son, Hunter, and brother, James, over the next two weeks could determine the fate of their flailing investigation. The closed-door interview with the president’s brother Wednesday comes as Republicans

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Special counsel asks judge to send indicted ex-informant in Hunter Biden case back to jail

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Special counsel David Weiss asked a California judge Wednesday to send indicted ex-FBI informant Alexander Smirnov back to jail while he awaits trial. A magistrate judge in Las Vegas released Smirnov on Tuesday, finding that even enough Smirnov posed a flight risk, he could be released under certain conditions. Those

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Fact check: Trump attack ad omits key context about Haley’s stance on gas tax

By Daniel Dale, CNN Washington (CNN) — Days before South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary, former President Donald Trump’s campaign has released an ad attacking rival Nikki Haley over her supposed stance on the state’s gasoline tax when she served as governor. But the Trump ad has the same problem as previous attacks from former Republican candidates in the

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Supreme Court signals skepticism over Biden ‘good neighbor’ smog plan

By John Fritze and Ella Nilsen, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s conservatives expressed skepticism over the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce smog and air pollution wafting across state lines during arguments Wednesday in the most significant environmental dispute at the high court this year. Three Republican-led states, industry groups and electric utilities want the

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Poll: Supreme Court faces lukewarm approval rating as justices grapple with Trump controversies

By Devan Cole, CNN Washington (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s approval rating stands at 40%, according to a new poll released Wednesday, underscoring the public’s stagnant view of the institution as the justices grapple with cases concerning former President Donald Trump’s political and legal fates. The Marquette Law School poll findings track closely with how

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Biden administration to issue new cyber directives aimed at defending ports, invest billions in new port infrastructure

By Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — The Biden administration on Wednesday will issue multiple cybersecurity directives aimed at shoring up vulnerabilities at US maritime ports that could be exploited by hackers and addressing security risks from Chinese-made cranes, according to senior US officials. Administration officials also plan to invest more than $20 billion over the

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Nearly 153,000 people enrolled in Biden’s new student loan plan will get an email Wednesday that their debt is canceled

By Katie Lobosco, CNN Washington (CNN) — Nearly 153,000 student loan borrowers currently enrolled in a new repayment plan launched by the Biden administration are expected to get an email Wednesday notifying them that their remaining federal student loan debt will be canceled, totaling about $1.2 billion. The email is expected to include a congratulatory

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James Biden grilled behind closed doors in critical interview with Republicans as GOP looks for lifeline in impeachment probe

By Annie Grayer, CNN House Republicans are entering a critical phase of their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as a pair of high stakes interviews with the president’s son, Hunter, and brother, James, over the next two weeks could determine the fate of their flailing investigation. The closed-door interview with the president’s brother Wednesday comes as Republicans in

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Biden and Democrats build cash edge over Trump and GOP, plus other campaign finance takeaways

By Fredreka Schouten, David Wright and Alex Leeds Matthews, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden’s political operation has expanded its financial advantage over former President Donald Trump’s campaign as the two men hurtle toward an expected general election confrontation, new filings show. Biden’s campaign entered February with nearly $56 million cash reserves in his main

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Georgia Gov. Kemp reveals he was interviewed by special counsel in 2020 election interference case

CNN By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN (CNN) — Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who resisted intense pressure from former President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election results in his state, revealed Tuesday that he has been interviewed by special counsel Jack Smith’s office. “I basically told them the same thing I told the special grand juries: that I follow the law and the Constitution

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Georgia Gov. Kemp reveals he was interviewed by special counsel in 2020 election interference case

By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN (CNN) — Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who resisted intense pressure from former President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election results in his state, revealed Tuesday that he has been interviewed by special counsel Jack Smith’s office. “I basically told them the same thing I told the special grand juries: that I follow the law and the Constitution and

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Indicted ex-FBI informant told investigators he got Hunter Biden dirt from Russian intelligence officials

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Cheri Mossburg, CNN (CNN) — The former FBI informant charged with lying about the Bidens’ dealings in Ukraine told investigators after his arrest that Russian intelligence officials were involved in passing information to him about Hunter Biden, prosecutors said Tuesday in a new court filing, noting that the information was false.

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Hunter Biden says special counsel used Alexander Smirnov’s discredited bribery claims to derail his plea deal

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Hunter Biden’s lawyers accused special counsel David Weiss on Tuesday of using a since-discredited bribery allegation from an FBI informant to blow up his plea deal last year. In a court filing Tuesday, attorneys for the president’s son asked a judge to force Weiss’ team to turn over

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Ahead of South Carolina primary, Nikki Haley vows to stay in the race until ‘the last person votes’

By Ebony Davis and Kylie Atwood, CNN Greenville, South Carolina (CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday reiterated her plans to continue her White House bid against former President Donald Trump, just five days ahead of the South Carolina Primary. “Some of you—perhaps a few of you in the media—came here today to

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Biden instructed aides to dial up attacks on Trump’s wild comments

By MJ Lee, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden personally directed his senior campaign aides in recent days to focus more aggressively on former President Donald Trump’s inflammatory comments, according to two sources familiar with the president’s edict. The thrust of Biden’s direction, delivered to his senior-most staff, was to significantly ramp up the campaign’s efforts to highlight the

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US vetoes UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza after proposing a temporary halt in fighting

By Rob Picheta, Alex Marquardt and Richard Roth, CNN (CNN) — The United States has vetoed a resolution at the United Nations calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an anticipated move that, while supportive of Israel, comes amid signs of American frustration with Israel’s war. The US had already signaled its intention to veto the

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Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Virginia high school’s ‘race-neutral’ admissions policy

By Devan Cole, CNN Washington (CNN) — The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to hear a challenge to a top Virginia high school’s “race-neutral” admissions policy that critics say discriminates against Asian American students. The case raised several key questions about the court’s landmark ruling last year invalidating affirmative action policies at the nation’s colleges and

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Supreme Court won’t review sanctions against pro-Trump lawyers who filed frivolous 2020 election suits

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to revisit sanctions levied against two pro-Trump attorneys who filed frivolous lawsuits challenging the outcome of the 2020 election in Michigan. Sidney Powell and Lin Wood filed separate appeals asking the justices to review sanctions imposed by a US district court in 2021.

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Report: North Korean missile fired by Russia against Ukraine contained US and European components

By Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — A North Korean ballistic missile fired last month by the Russian military in Ukraine contained hundreds of components that trace back to companies in the US and Europe, according to a new report. The findings mark the first public identification of North Korea’s reliance on foreign technology for its missile program and underscore the persistent problem facing the

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Biden draws in $42 million in January amid a fresh round of Democratic handwringing

By Arlette Saenz and Kevin Liptak, CNN Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden raised more than $42 million for his presidential campaign and the Democratic Party in January, a sizable haul that shows the party’s donor class is still firmly behind the president despite anxiety around his reelection run. The campaign announced it ended the month with $130

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Speaker Johnson faces critical decision on Ukraine aid as international pressure grows to act

By Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer and Haley Talbot, CNN (CNN) — Speaker Mike Johnson is facing international criticism over his lack of swift action on Ukraine aid, which is ratcheting up pressure to make a critical decision that will not only have massive implications for his rookie speakership but also for Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. So far, Johnson

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US Army under increasing pressure as it foots bill for Ukraine support

By Haley Britzky and Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — As funding for Ukraine faces an uncertain future in Congress, the US Army has been left to foot the bill for hundreds of millions of dollars in support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia over the last few months — and Army officials are increasingly concerned that without new funding, they will have to

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Biden administration considers slowing key emissions rules – a potential blow to EV growth

By Ella Nilsen, CNN (CNN) — The Biden administration is considering relaxing stringent vehicle emissions rules it proposed last year, giving automakers more time to meet requirements that would make them sell more electric vehicles, according to two sources familiar with the plan. The Environmental Protection Agency’s vehicle emissions rule is a key plank of

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Rep. Tlaib calls on fellow Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ in protest against Biden in Michigan primary

By Rashard Rose and Isabelle D’Antonio, CNN (CNN) — Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, an outspoken critic of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, is calling on residents to vote “uncommitted” in the Michigan primary. “We feel completely neglected and just unseen by our government. If you want us to be louder, then come

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Schumer demands Johnson, House GOP pass foreign aid bill following Ukrainian withdrawal from key city and Navalny’s death

By Rashard Rose and Jack Forrest, CNN (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday demanded Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans pass a foreign aid bill following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin “is watching.” “Last week, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the national security supplemental, and

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Haley calls Trump’s NATO comments ‘bone-chilling’ and empowering to Putin

By Aileen Graef, CNN (CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley called former President Donald Trump’s recent NATO comments “bone-chilling” and empowering to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “When you hear Donald Trump say in South Carolina a week ago that he would encourage Putin to invade our allies if they weren’t pulling their weight, that’s

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US conducts strikes against Houthi underwater vessel for the first time since Red Sea attacks began

By Aileen Graef, CNN (CNN) — The US on Saturday conducted strikes against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and vessels, including on the first unmanned underwater vessel the Iranian-backed rebel group has used since the attacks in the Red Sea began, according to US Central Command. The US conducted five strikes against three anti-ship cruise missiles,

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Inside Kamala Harris’ quiet effort to break through the Biden campaign’s information bubble

By Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN Washington, DC (CNN) — For some, it’s been a conversation off to the side at the White House congressional holiday party. Others have gathered at actress Eva Longoria’s house in Los Angeles. Still more have huddled on Air Force Two or gathered for a series of Saturday sessions and dinners that Vice President Kamala Harris

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Former FBI counterintelligence chief sentenced to more prison time over undisclosed foreign cash

By Josh Campbell and Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — A former senior FBI counterintelligence official, previously sentenced to federal prison for his association with a Russian oligarch, has been ordered to serve additional time in a separate case involving the receipt of foreign cash, according to the US Justice Department. Charles McGonigal, a 22-year veteran of the FBI who

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Biden blames ‘congressional inaction’ for Ukrainian withdrawal of key town in call with Zelensky

CNN By Sam Fossum, Priscilla Alvarez, Radina Gigova and Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden, in a call Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, directly tied Ukraine’s withdrawal from the key town of Avdiivka to Congress’ inability to pass further aid for the country’s effort to fend off Russia’s invasion. “This morning, Ukraine’s

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Biden blames ‘congressional inaction’ for Ukrainian withdrawal of key town in call with Zelensky

By Sam Fossum, Priscilla Alvarez, Radina Gigova and Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden, in a call Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, directly tied Ukraine’s withdrawal from the key town of Avdiivka to Congress’ inability to pass further aid for the country’s effort to fend off Russia’s invasion. “This morning, Ukraine’s military

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Biden and Democrats attack Trump over abortion after report that he supports a 16-week ban

By Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden and his allies attacked Donald Trump over abortion after the New York Times reported Friday that the former president has privately expressed support for a 16-week federal ban, as Democrats center the politically potent issue ahead of November’s election. Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told CNN

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Trump returns to Michigan with eyes on a Biden rematch, but legal woes loom over campaign

By Steve Contorno, Kristen Holmes and Kate Sullivan, CNN Waterford Township, Michigan (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump returned to the Wolverine State on Saturday with both the Republican presidential race and this crucial 2024 battleground altered considerably since his last visit some five months ago. Then, Trump swooped in for a rally centered on

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Exclusive: Russia attempting to develop nuclear space weapon to destroy satellites with massive energy wave, sources familiar with intel say

CNN By Katie Bo Lillis, Jim Sciutto, Kristin Fisher and Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — Russia is trying to develop a nuclear space weapon that would destroy satellites by creating a massive energy wave when detonated, potentially crippling a vast swath of the commercial and government satellites that the world below depends on to talk on cell phones, pay bills, and surf the internet, according to

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Exclusive: Russia attempting to develop nuclear space weapon to destroy satellites with massive energy wave, sources familiar with intel say

CNN By Katie Bo Lillis, Jim Sciutto, Kristin Fisher and Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — Russia is trying to develop a nuclear space weapon that would destroy satellites by creating a massive energy wave when detonated, potentially crippling a vast swath of the commercial and government satellites that the world below depends on to talk on cell phones, pay bills, and surf the internet, according to

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Exclusive: Russia attempting to develop nuclear space weapon to destroy satellites with massive energy wave, sources familiar with intel say

By Katie Bo Lillis, Jim Sciutto, Kristin Fisher and Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — Russia is trying to develop a nuclear space weapon that would destroy satellites by creating a massive energy wave when detonated, potentially crippling a vast swath of the commercial and government satellites that the world below depends on to talk on cell phones, pay bills, and surf the internet, according to three

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Rep. Matt Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend subpoenaed by House Ethics Committee and is expected to plead the Fifth later this month

By Paula Reid, CNN (CNN) — The House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz has subpoenaed his ex-girlfriend who was a key witness in the federal investigation into the Florida lawmaker, according to her lawyer Tim Jansen. She is scheduled to testify, via a video call, on February 29, and Jansen said she will invoke the Fifth

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Donald Trump Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here is a look at the life of Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States. Personal Birth date: June 14, 1946 Birth place: New York, New York Birth name: Donald John Trump Father: Fred Trump, real estate developer Mother: Mary (Macleod) Trump Marriages: Melania (Knauss) Trump (January 22,

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House Republicans seek to downplay FBI informant charges that undermine Biden impeachment inquiry

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — House Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden tried to downplay the importance of an FBI informant whose claims they once championed after he was charged with fabricating foreign bribery allegations involving the president and his son. Special counsel David Weiss charged the FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, with lying to the FBI and creating false

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Civil lawsuits seeking to hold Trump accountable for January 6 can move forward

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — Civil lawsuits seeking to hold Donald Trump accountable for the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack can move forward after the former president declined to ask the Supreme Court to decide whether he is shielded by presidential immunity. A federal appeals court in December cleared the way for three lawsuits brought against Trump

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Navalny’s death puts a new spotlight on key dividing line between Trump and Biden

CNN By Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — The announcement of Alexey Navalny’s death on Friday thrust fresh urgency into the roiling debate in Washington over how forcefully to counter Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, a question of wide-ranging consequence on which President Joe Biden and his likely opponent Donald Trump have adopted diametrically opposed positions.

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Navalny’s death puts a new spotlight on key dividing line between Trump and Biden

By Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — The announcement of Alexey Navalny’s death on Friday thrust fresh urgency into the roiling debate in Washington over how forcefully to counter Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, a question of wide-ranging consequence on which President Joe Biden and his likely opponent Donald Trump have adopted diametrically opposed positions. The

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