The U.S. Attorneys Office for Washington, D.C., ruled Thursday that the man who was convicted and then later granted a retrial for the 2001 death of D.C. intern Chandra Levy will be released and not be retried. Based on recent unforeseen developments that were investigated over the past week, the Office moved to dismiss the case charging Ingmar Guandique with the May 2001 murder of Chandra Levy, prosecutors said in a statement, without specifying what information led to the decision. Levy was a 24-year-old intern who was romantically connected to then-U.S. Rep. Gary Condit (D-CA) when she disappeared in 2001. Her body was found a year later in Rock Creek Park; Condit was cleared as a suspect. According to prosecutors, Guandique, who was convicted of the murder in 2010, will be released to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement where he will face deportation proceedings.
Couple Who Won $528.8M Powerball Mysteriously Move From California Home
A ticket sold in western Pennsylvania won $1 million in Wednesday night"s Powerball drawing.
The ticket had the first five numbers - 10, 47, 50, 65 and 68 - but not the red Powerball number, 24.
No one had all six numbers and the jackpot for Saturday"s drawing climbs to $479 million annuity, or $330.6 million cash.
The $1 million Pennsylvania ticket was sold at the Shop "N Save, 5001 Library Road, Bethel Park, Allegheny County.
Tickets sold in Ohio, Virginia and Florida also had the first five numbers in Wednesday"s drawing, with the Florida ticket winning $2 million because the buyer had picked the powerplay option.
The location of where the Pennsylvania ticket was sold will be released later Thursday.
No one hit the jackpot in Tuesday night"s MegaMillions drawing and the top prize climbs to $20 million annuity, or $13 million cash, for Friday night"s drawing.
Published: July 28, 2016 7:56 AM EDT
| Updated: July 28, 2016 10:39 AM EDT
The Philadelphia Inquirer
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Donald Trump on Russia & missing Hillary Clinton emails (C-SPAN)
PHILADELPHIA (CNN) - Hillary Clinton"s campaign manager is alleging that Russian hackers are leaking Democratic National Committee emails critical of Bernie Sanders in an effort to help Donald Trump win the election in November.
It comes on the heels of "changes to the Republican platform to make it more pro-Russian," Robby Mook told CNN"s Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" Sunday.
"I don"t think it"s coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention here, and I think that"s disturbing," he said.
The DNC has previously had its files hacked by an individual named "Guccifer 2.0" that may have had ties to the Russians.
Hackers stole opposition research on Donald Trump from the DNC"s servers in mid-June. Two separate Russian intelligence-linked cyberattack groups were both in the DNC"s networks.
Mook pointed to Trump"s position on NATO -- that he wouldn"t necessarily assist allies who haven"t contributed enough financially to the organization -- and argued that position would aid Russia in Eastern Europe, as well.
"I think when you put all this together, it"s a disturbing picture, and voters need to reflect on that," Mook said.
Trump"s campaign seized on Mook"s comments, using them to attack Clinton as a candidate who "will do and say anything" to win.
"What a joke," Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in a statement. "This shows that Hillary Clinton will do and say anything to win the election and hold onto power in the rigged system."
Donald Trump Jr., the son of the Republican nominee, also bashed Mook"s comments later on "State of the Union."
"It just goes to show you their exact moral compass. I mean they"ll say anything to be able to win this. This is time and time again, lie after lie," Trump Jr. told Tapper. "It"s disgusting. It"s so phony. I watched him bumble through the interview."
He added "These lies and the perpetuating of nonsense to try to gain some political capital is outrageous and he should be ashamed of himself. If a Republican did that, they"d be calling for people to bring out the electric chair."
On CNN"s Erin Burnett OutFront, Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort called any claims of Russian assistance to the Trump effort "absurd" when asked about it on the show.
"Donald Trump is talking about the failed leadership of the Obama administration," Manafort said. "I don"t know anything about what you just said. You may know it. If you do, expose it. But to say you know -- i don"t know what you"re talking about. It is crazy."
Mook downplayed the possibility that the email release will rip open divides between supporters of Clinton and Sanders just before the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Philadelphia.
"The DNC needs to take appropriate steps, and I"m confident that they will," he said.
VP Joe Biden: How can there be pleasure in saying you"re fired?
Watch Vice President Biden deliver a blistering speech aimed at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention. (Video: Victoria Walker/The Washington Post;Photo: Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)
Joe Biden started his speech Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention by hailing Michelle Obama"s Monday speech as a lock to bethe best ofthis week"s Democratic National Convention.
And then he mayvery well have matched it.
Biden used the distinctly Biden tools at his disposal to assemble a succinct takedown of Donald Trump"s vision of America. He navigatedthe challenge of a crowd that had been unruly at times this week by telling them to quiet down and let him make his points; they did. As he often does, he assured us that he was being serious, honest, and that this was important. He called himself "middle-class Joe." He even got "malarkey" involved.
"He is trying to tell us he cares about the middle class," Biden said of Trump. "Give me a break. That"s a bunch of malarkey."
[Winners and losers from the third night of the Democratic convention]
Vice President Joe Biden has a habit of calling things and, in the case of Donald Trump, people "malarkey." Here"s an incomplete list of times he"s used his favorite put-down. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
Biden started out by talking about his family and his son, Beau, who died last year. He delivered a tribute to working-class Americans who don"t have the kind of support system he does to deal with hard times. He talked about how importantHillary Clinton"s presidency would be to his daughters and granddaughters.
And then he turned to Trump and painted the picture of a populist fraud. Trump, he said, was no populist.
"Ladies and gentlemen, to state the obvious -- and I"m not trying to be a wiseguy here, I really mean it -- that"s not Donald Trump"s story," Biden said.
It would be the first of many asides Biden would useto get the crowd focused. Asthe crowd began to applaud, Biden shushed them: "Just listen to me for a sec without booing or cheering. I mean this sincerely. We should really think about this."
Political conventions are about applauding and getting riled up, and Biden was asking for the opposite. And the crowd was with him.
"His cynicism is unbounded," Biden said of Trump. "His lack of empathy and compassion can be summed up in a phrase I suspect he"s most proud of having made famous: "You"re fired." I"m not joking; think about that."
[After his comments about Russia, Donald Trump once again proves hes the chaos candidate]
This isn"t a particularly novel attack on Trump -- that he"s a rich guy who likes to fire people. A speechwriter on his or her first day could come up with that. But Biden made it work.
Heused humility: "I know I"m called middle-class Joe, and in Washington that"s not meant as a compliment. It means you"re not sophisticated. But I know why we"re strong. I know why we have held together. I know why we are united. It"s because we"ve always had a growing middle class. This guydoesn"t have a clue about the middle class -- not a clue."
Biden was uniquely situated to make this case.Trump has used his populist appeal and unique political style to appeal to working-class white voters in a way Republicans haven"t before. These are Biden"s people, too. In fact, Biden was born and raised in the same hardscrabble Scranton, Pa., that Trump visited just hours beforeBiden"s speech at the Democratic convention.
"He has no clue about what makes America great," Biden said referring to Trump"s slogan. "Actually, he has no clue."
And then: "No major-party nominee in the history of this nation has ever known less or has been less prepared to deal with our national security."
He said Trump has "no plan whatsoever" to defeat terrorism and "embraces the tactics of our enemies," such astorture.
These were all harsh attacks -- the kind of red meat that conventions are made for. And Biden delivered the red meat better than anyone at this week"s convention.
There was some talk -- mostly Democratic fantasies -- about Biden potentially staying on as vice president, becoming Hillary Clinton"s running mate. He would have been very good at it -- especially in the Year of Trump.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz" Team Hillary Job Application
Even the lesser-known emails in the recent Wikileaks dump of hacked DNC emails contain fascinating details. For example, did you know that if you sent an interesting enough reply to a presidential campaigns email blast, they actually read it and pass it around? And did you know that despite having won the state, there are at least two Tennesseeans who are really not crazy about Hillary Clinton?
The DNC got at least two such replies to an email blast entitled Join me in Knoxville June 3rd!, the first being a profane, if misspelled, kiss-off from Knoxville-based executive Michael Vukmir to outgoing DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her b***h Hilary:
I wouldnt join the DNC in Knoxville unless Debbie steps down along with Hilary. You have lost every inch of my support so f**k off Debbie along with your b***h Hilary.
FEEL THE Bern b*****s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
Another response to the same email was passed around by DNC staff as well:
DWS, youre almost as corrupt as $hillary Clinton. Ive already left the Democratic partyafter 32 years. Lots of us have. And you and your direction for the Democratic party are a large reason why. HRC is the other reason.
Its comingthe shock you will feel when MILLIONS of us wont vote for ShillaryPERIOD.
f**k you.
The DNC staffers internal response to both emails was the same: Great start!
USA vs China Exhibition Game Full Highlights 07.26.16
By Sam Smith | 7.27.2016 | 3:20 p.m.
As if Venezuela doesnt have enough problems with food shortages and riots roiling the country in a desperate humanitarian crisis. Now the national basketball team must face a hungry USA Basketball juggernaut in the United Center 8 p.m. Friday.
The USA teams pre-Olympic exhibition tour officially is known as its Basketball Showcase.
But its been a case of the missing opponent. With two games against China and one with Argentina, the USA team is 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 45.3 points.
And then coach Mike Krzyzewski chided the team a bit after the Wednesday 107-57 victory over China in Oakland for perhaps not taking things seriously enough. Uh oh.
This exhibition tour doesnt feature the best competition the USA team will see in Rio de Janeiro next month in the mens Olympic basketball tournament. But its been an impressive start, nonetheless, and even for a team that is without several of the NBAs biggest stars, like LeBron James, Chris Paul, LaMarcus Aldridge, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, John Wall, Anthony Davis, Kevin Love and Damian Lillard. All withdrew for various personal reasons, including injury and fatigue.
But its not a team without stars as Kevin Durant has emerged as one of the top scorers along with Carmelo Anthony and DeMarcus Cousins.
Bulls two-time All-Star Jimmy Butler is among the 12 USA players competing for the gold medal. Butler is expected to start Friday in the United Center game.
Krzyzewski said hes been changing starting lineups to feature players at or near their home cities or home teams. Several Golden State Warriors started in Tuesdays game in Oakland, including new Warrior Durant making his Oakland debut.
Butler said at USA training in Las Vegas last week hed concentrate on defense with this team.
Its cool being on the same team as some of the best players in the world, Butler said. Watching them go at it and compete even in practice. Thats something Ive got to be able to carry over to the NBA soon.
Do whatever it takes, Butler added. I know Ill be guarding; thats for sure. But I dont think anybodys going to have the same role that they had with their individual team in the NBA. But like Coach K said, Everybodys gotta sacrifice for the greater of the team. So whatever my role may be, you best bet Ill star in that role. (This is) another thing I never expected to happen being from Tomball (Texas). Until August 21st, (winning gold) is what each and every one of the guys on this Olympic roster wants.
Butler has come off the bench in all three games, averaging just under 15 minutes per game. Butler is averaging 2.3 points on three of nine shooting in the three games. Krzyzewski has emphasized defense with this USA team, which is not uncommon for USA national teams given the short time coming together. But Krzyzewski also said its a roster best fit for defense because of the athleticism and size of the players and thus the ability to switch on the perimeter and protect the rim.
I think theres a willingness to play it, Krzyzewski said about the teams defensive efforts. The guys want to play it and then its a matter of us getting to where we understand our coverages on the wing, top ball screens, stuff like that so its coordinated. I think we can play really good D. DeMar (DeRozan) had his hands on a lot of b***s, and Paul (George) was really good on both ends of the court. Then either or he or Jimmy (Butler), Klay (Thompson), DeMar, those are very active defenders on the perimeter.
Durant and Anthony have been the leaders of the team.
Durant is the leading scorer at 18.3 per game with Anthony at 14 points per game. Anthony is going for a record third consecutive gold medal and fourth straight Olympics with USA Basketball. Sacramentos DeMarcus Cousins is second to Durant at 15.6 per game and a team best 11 rebounds. Cousins plays much differently with USA Basketball than he does with the Kings, more in control and team oriented. Cousins has been running the court and attacking the boards instead of holding onto the ball as he does with the Kings, and he thus has been a dominant player.
DeAndre Jordan complements Cousins at center as the team has had huge margins on the offensive boards. Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving and George have provided scoring. George is making a popular comeback with USA Basketball after suffering a broken leg at USA training two years ago.
The USA team will practice in Chicago Thursday. Following Fridays game against Venezuela, the team will play a final exhibition game Aug. 1 against Nigeria in Houston. The team then leaves for Rio de Janeiro for the basketball competition from Aug. 6 through Aug. 21.
Full speech: Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention
Were getting near the end of Joe Bidens four decades in public life. Hes still vice president, of course, and hes going to be out on the campaign trail for the next few months campaigning for Hillary Clinton, but this is the big wind down for Biden. He opted not to mount his own 2016 campaign, which means the Democratic National Convention was likely Bidens last big moment, the last time hed have the national stage all to himselfwiththe entire party tuning in to hear him speak.
There was no escaping the valedictory trappings of Bidens remarks Wednesday night. His speech was preceded by an introduction video that went over all his greatest hits as a senator and VP, with clips of Biden speaking out against apartheid, urging an end to ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, advocating for cancer research, and speaking about the loss of loved ones. It was the condensed version of what this convention would have likely been about had Biden run and won the nomination.
The first half of Bidens speech was extremely Biden-y an empathetic and solemn feel-gooder about overcoming the trials and difficulties of life. It was an homage to the hardscrabblers: teachers, soldiers, the poor. These are the people that are the heart and soul of this country, he said, very Bidenly. This projection of empathy is one of Bidens strongest political talents. Youd be hard-pressed to find a more earnest political communicator watch this 2012 video of Biden speaking to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors about the deaths of his wife and daughter to get an idea of what I mean. His greatest strength has always been the idea that Joe Biden gets it.
In his speech on Wednesday night, Biden transferred the gets it mantle to Hillary Clinton. Everybody knows she is smart. Everyone knows she is tough. But I know what she is passionate about. I know Hillary. Hillary understands. Hillary gets it. He did this in part to build up the Democratic nominee, and also to set up the second half of his speech, in which Biden stripped the flesh off of Donald Trump,
His cynicism is unbounded, Biden said of Trump. His lack of empathy and compassion can be summed up in that phrase he is most proud of making famous: Youre fired. Setting himself as the paragon of middle-class values (Im called Middle-Class Joe), Biden blasted Trumps populist affect: This guy does not have a clue about the middle class. Not a clue. His message was simple: Trump is the anti-Biden.
The attacks only grew sharper from that point. No major party nominee in the history of our nation has ever known less, or been less prepared to deal with our national security, Biden said. Trumps exploitation of fear is not who we are and betrays our values. Biden blasted Trump as a man who seeks to sow division in America for his own gain and disorder around the world, a man who confuses bluster with strength. His blistering takedown of Trumps unpreparedness and moral vacuity were paired with a rah-rah call to patriotism: The 21st century is going to be the American century. Because we lead not only by example of our power, but by the power of our example. That is the history of the journey of Americans. And G*d willing, Hillary Clinton will write the next chapter in that journey.
This is the Biden we can expect to see on the campaign trail as he takes this same message of empathy, middle-class appreciation, and flag-waving patriotism to a subset of voters that Democrats would very much like to win back to their cause: working class whites. Biden said as much on MSNBC on Wednesday morning. I think the Democratic Party overall hasnt spoken enough to those voters, he explained. Thats why Im going to be living in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan until Election Day. Three more months of telling working-class voters that Middle-Class Joe gets it.
