Month: June 2022

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday he supports the framework agreement for a gun reform plan announced by a bipartisan group of senators over the weekend. A total of 60 votes would be required to pass the measure with the Senate split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats.

McConnell said during his weekly press conference that he would likely lend his vote to the deal announced by a group of 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats: “I’m comfortable with the framework and if the legislation ends up reflecting what the framework indicates, I’ll be supportive….I think if this framework becomes the actual piece of legislation, it’s a step forward, a step forward on a bipartisan basis, and further demonstrates to the American people that we can come together, which we have done from time to time on things like infrastructure and postal reform, to make progress for the country.”

A group of 20 senators led by Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas announced Sunday they reached consensus on the key priorities of a deal to reform the nation’s gun laws. The agreement would provide incentives for states to pass so-called “red flag” laws, boost mental health resources, provide funding for school safety resources, clarify the definition of a federally licensed firearms dealer and crack down on criminals who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns. It would also expand background checks for firearms buyers under 21, by requiring an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records.

It does not, however, include a provision supported by President Joe Biden and other Democrats to raise the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 years old that was included in a bill passed by the Democrat-led House last week.

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A Russian court on Tuesday extended pre-trial detention for American basketball star Brittney Griner, who was detained in February and so far has spent more than three months in prison on drug charges. Griner, 31, had been detained in Russia  after an airport stop for allegedly carrying vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage. Griner’s pre-trial detention was previously extended to May 19, and then for another 30 days before Tuesday’s addition. Now, Griner will remain in custody at least through July 2, according to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency Tuesday. The agency said that the court’s 18-day extension for Griner came at “the request of the investigation.”

Griner was taken into custody at Sheremetyevo International Airport, near Moscow, on Feb. 17 after officials allegedly found vape cartridges with hashish oil in her bag, which is illegal to possess in Russia. She was charged with “large-scale transportation of drugs” and could face up to 10 years in prison.

The arrest came about a week before Russia invaded Ukraine, and some U.S. officials are concerned that Americans jailed in Russia could be used as leverage. Last month, the U.S. government changed Griner’s status to “wrongfully detained,” which means that the United States will take more proactive measures to free Griner and will no longer wait for the Russian justice system to resolve the issue.

Griner was visiting Russia to play basketball for the Russian Premier League team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason.  Women basketball players often compete for teams overseas during their U.S. offseason to earn more income. The 6-foot-9 center won an NCAA title at Baylor in 2012; a WNBA title with the Phoenix Mercury, her current team, in 2014; and gold medals with the U.S. women’s team at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. When the WNBA kicked off this year’s season on May 6, it honored Griner with a floor decal bearing her initials and jersey number (No. 42) on the sideline of all 12 WNBA courts.

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