Blinken: Evidence of China Meddling in US Elections; Trump’s NY Campaign Finance Trial Enters Day 8

The Chinese Communist Party is “powering” Russia’s war against Ukraine and Moscow would struggle to sustain its attack without that Chinese support, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on April 26 before leaving China at the end of his three-day trip. Before departing Beijing, Mr. Blinken acknowledged the CCP’s efforts to meddle in U.S. elections. “We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and, arguably, interfere, and we want to make sure that that’s cut off as quickly as possible,” Mr. Blinken told CNN in Beijing.

David Pecker, the former head of American Media Inc., returned to the witness stand for cross-examination by the defense on day 8 of former President Donald Trump’s campaign finance trial in New York. President Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, which prosecutors say was done in order to cover up a scheme to influence the 2016 elections. The defense is arguing that President Trump has not committed any crimes.

As protests escalate across college and university campuses in the United States, a New York Police Department official has vowed that a “Seattle-style” occupation zone will not be tolerated on the streets of New York City. The comments to Fox News came as anti-Israel demonstrations continued at Columbia University, New York University, and other institutions.