News Wrap: U.S. charges Russian media baron over sanctions violations

Judy Woodruff:

In the day's other news: The United States charged a Russian media baron with spreading propaganda on Ukraine, in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Konstantin Malofeyev is believed be in Russia, beyond the reach of U.S. justice. But Justice Department officials said they have seized $10 million of his assets. Two days after seizing another oligarch's yacht.

Lisa Monaco, U.S. Deputy Attorney General:

We have our eyes on every yacht and jet. We have our eyes on every piece of art and real estate purchased with dirty money, and on every Bitcoin wallet filled with proceeds of theft and other crimes.

Judy Woodruff:

The Justice Department also said that it has disrupted a botnet, a network of thousands of infected computers controlled by Russian military intelligence.

Russia's Parliament paid tribute today to the late Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a Putin ally and fiercely nationalist lawmaker. He was known for anti-Western tirades going back 30 years. Lawmakers in the Russian State Duma stood for a moment of silence today to mark his passing. Zhirinovsky had been hospitalized with COVID in February. He was 75.

In Israel, the fragile governing coalition is in disarray after a single lawmaker's defection erased its majority in Parliament. The dispute involves religious observances in public hospitals during Passover. If it cannot be resolved, Israel could face new national elections for the fifth time in just over three years.

Back in this country, parts of the South are recovering from tornadoes and thunderstorms for the second time in two weeks. Three people were killed Tuesday in Texas, Louisiana and Georgia. Gusting winds and heavy rain hit Central Georgia hard and a twister struck west of Savannah before veering off.

Farther south, another storm ripped a path near Blakely.

Julie Trawick, Parents’ Home Damaged:

There was a tornado that touched down in this path. And the top of a pine tree fell into the front part of my parents' house. And it — there's a hole in the front. This can be fixed. This is — everybody's safe. Nobody got hurt.

Judy Woodruff:

A tornado warning also forced the Statehouse in South Carolina to be evacuated. And thousands of customers lost power across several states.

The U.S. House of Representatives moved this evening to vote contempt of Congress charges against two former Trump advisers in the January 6 investigation. Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino have refused to testify, even though President Biden has denied them the shield of executive privilege. The Justice Department will decide whether to prosecute the pair.

Prosecutors in Minneapolis have decided not to charge a police officer who fatally shot Amir Locke.

The 22-year-old Black man was killed during a no-knock search in February. Today, prosecutors said they could not justify charges because Locke pointed a gun. Afterwards, his mother warned the officer that she won't give up. They spoke at separate briefings.

Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General:

It would be unethical for us to file charges in a case in which we know that we will not be able to prevail because the law does not the charges.

Karen Wells, Mother of Amir Locke: The spirit of my baby is going to haunt you for the rest of your life. I am not disappointed. I am disgusted with the city of Minneapolis.

Judy Woodruff:

Just yesterday, the mayor of Minneapolis announced a new policy that requires police to knock and wait before entering a home. It takes effect Friday.

President Biden today extended a pause on student loan repayments through August 31. The freeze has now been extended six times during the pandemic. It affects more than 43 million Americans who have student debt.

On Wall Street, stocks retreated on news that Federal Reserve leaders expect that they may need to raise interest rates half-a-point, instead of a quarter-point, and multiple times, to fight inflation. That, plus accelerated reductions in bond holdings, will drive up borrowing costs.

In response, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 144 points to close at 34496. The Nasdaq fell 315 points, 2 percent. The S&P 500 slid 44, 1 percent.

And the early 1960s singer and teen idol Bobby Rydell has passed away after complications from pneumonia. He gained stardom in the period between Elvis and The Beatles with nearly three dozen hits, including "Kissin' Time" and "Wild One." He also starred in the 1963 movie musical "Bye Bye Birdie" and made numerous TV appearances.

Bobby Rydell was 79.