Hunter Biden, UFO Whistleblower, and King Peanut Returns

Biden Plea Goes Awry

President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal tax crimes yesterday after an original plea deal with prosecutors fell apart when a judge raised concerns about the details. The case is now on hold to give more time to the parties to submit additional information and allow the judge to review a revised deal.

Hunter Biden, 53, was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income taxes on more than $1.5M in income in 2017 and 2018. He was also expected to enter into an agreement to avoid prison for a felony firearm charge for falsely filling out a federal form during a 2018 gun purchase while being a drug user at the time. See our previous write-up here.

Prosecutors said their probe into Hunter Biden's business dealings remains ongoing, and he could face additional charges. The GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee's own investigation also continues. 

Separately, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20) is floating an impeachment inquiry into President Biden over unverified claims of possible financial misconduct. 

UFO Whistleblower Testifies

A former US Air Force intelligence officer appeared before House lawmakers yesterday, alleging federal officials have concealed evidence of UFOs from the public for decades. The hearing is the latest in the increasingly public conversation about unidentified aerial phenomena—a formal term covering both terrestrial and, in principle, extraterrestrial craft. 

Retired Maj. David Grusch, who went public in June, served in various capacities tracking UAP events for various federal agencies from 2019-22. The most explosive of his claims—all based on secondhand reports collected during his tenure—is that the US government has retrieved numerous nonhuman craft and is in a race to reverse-engineer the technology before other nations. At least one former colleague has publicly backed Grusch's statements. 

Also appearing was former Navy commander David Fravor, whose 2004 encounter with a UAP made waves after being declassified three years ago.  

Watch highlights from the hearing here.

Crane Collapse in New York City

Eleven people were injured, including two firefighters, when the engine of a crane operating in Midtown Manhattan caught fire and collapsed early Wednesday morning, sending 16 tons of concrete and debris sprawling onto 10th Avenue. The surrounding area was closed for several hours as first responders extinguished the blaze, whose preliminary cause is believed to be a hydraulic fluid leak.

Around 7:30 am local time, a fire was reported at the construction site at 550 10th Ave., a planned 54-story mixed-use building. The crane operator managed to reach safety after attempting to put out the engine fire. Not long after, a video appears to show the top segment of the crane breaking and crashing into a neighboring apartment building (see video; warning, language).

Lomma, the parent company responsible for operation, has been involved in at least two other high-profile accidents over the last two decades, including a 2008 incident where two workers were killed. 

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