Two former FBI officials surrendered on charges of lying to Congress about an investigation involving Hunter Biden's laptop, the Justice Department said. A lawyer for one called them 'nonsense charges' and said the department was trying to revive a scandal before the midterm vote.
Why it matters: The prosecutions add to legal disputes over the Justice Department's role ahead of the midterms.
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American released by Russia during Steve Witkoff's visit, has arrived in the US, his lawyer said. Hubbard had been sentenced to almost seven years in prison on charges of acting as a mercenary for Kyiv; his family says he was living in the Ukrainian city of Izium when he was taken in 2022.
Why it matters: The release was presented by both Moscow and Washington as a goodwill step alongside renewed peace efforts.
Putin ordered the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American held since 2022 on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, as he met Witkoff. President Trump had requested the release and welcomed it on social media.
Why it matters: The release is a goodwill gesture between Moscow and Washington as they discuss terms for ending the war in Ukraine.