Elon Musk hold a chainsaw as he arrives to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The Justice Department’s second-in-command demanded that a judge dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The mayor, who faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment, declared, “I have not committed a crime.”

Manhattan federal Judge Dale E. Ho declined to rule immediately, saying he wanted to carefully review the “unusual situation,” but did acknowledge the vast political and legal implications. “I’m not going to shoot from the hip right here on the bench,” said Ho before acknowledging, “It is not in anyone’s interest for this to drag on.”

Here’s the latest:

Veterans Affairs spokesperson says no crisis line responders were laid off

VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz said no Veterans Crisis Line responders were affected by last week’s layoffs of more than 1,000 probationary employees.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth told journalists Wednesday that her office has heard from fired VA employees who worked for the crisis line and supported the VA claims process.

VA leaders can request that employees be exempted from probationary removal, Kasperowicz said, and hiring continues for more than 300,000 essential positions that are exempted from the administration’s hiring freeze because they provide health care and other vital services.