In the day's other headlines the Republican controlled House of Representatives voted this afternoon to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.

The measure passed by a vote of 216 to 207.

At issue was Garland's refusal to hand-off. by a vote of 216 to 207.

At issue was Garland's refusal to hand over audio recordings

of President Biden's interview

with Special Counsel Robert Her

about his handling of classified documents.

Prior to the vote, Republican lawmakers laid out why they wanted the audio.

The audio recordings are necessary to adequately evaluate special counsel hers assessment about

President Biden's memory and to determine whether the DOJ is engaging in a two-tiered

application of justice by refusing to indict

Jill Biden.

In response, the attorney general issued a statement saying, quote,

it is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives

has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

The U.S. piled on new sanctions against Russia ahead of tomorrow's start of the G7 summit in Italy.

The latest package targets Chinese companies that help Russia's war in Ukraine

and institutions who do business with sanctioned Russian firms.

More than 300 new sanctions will affect over $100 million in trade between Russia and suppliers of its war effort.

At the summit, G7 leaders are also expected to work on turning frozen Russian assets into direct aid for Ukraine.

As the US widens its sanctions against Russia, Moscow has dispatched naval vessels to carry out exercises near Cuba.

Russian warships sailed into Havana Bay earlier today.

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