--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, July 19th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- Georgia Howe: On Wednesday, IRS Special Agent Joe Ziegler, the previously anonymous whistleblower, testified before Congress revealing his identity and providing detail into allegations of corruption at the IRS to protect the Biden family.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Ziegler is a Democrat who worked as an IRS agent on the agency's investigation into Hunter Biden's tax affairs. He testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
--:-- Georgia Howe: There is nothing that indicates Hunter Biden will be required to amend his false tax return for 2018. A false tax return that includes improper deductions for prostitutes, sex clubs, and his adult children's tuition.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Biden administration has formally suspended funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the Chinese research Institute at the center of the COVID lab leak theory.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The administration claims the Institute does not comply with federal regulations.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here with more is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: The Department of Health and Human Services informed the Wuhan Institute this week that the U.S. is cutting off funding and according to a memo first reported by Bloomberg News, is looking to stop funding permanently.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: The decision comes after a months review by HHS which concluded that the Institute, a leader in coronavirus research based in Wuhan where the COVID virus began, is not compliant with federal regulations and is not presently responsible.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: The decision to scrap funding came after the Wuhan Institute failed to provide documents related to concerns that it had violated the National Institutes of Health's biosafety protocols.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke before a joint session of Congress today.
--:-- Georgia Howe: When the United States is strong, Israel is stronger. And when Israel is strong, the United States is more secure.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Herzog is wrapping up his second trip to the United States as president. He was elected in 2021, and while his position is largely that of a figurehead, President Joe Biden welcomed him at the White House and praised Israel as an ally on Tuesday.
--:-- Georgia Howe: America's commitment to Israel is firm and it is ironclad. And we're committed as well to ensure that Iran never requires a nuclear weapon.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So we've got a lot to talk about, but again, welcome.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Las Vegas Metro Police Department confirmed this week that authorities searched a home in connection to the nearly three-decade investigation into the death of legendary hip artist Tupac Shakur.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Shakur's death has remained a mystery since the iconic rapper was fatally shot in 1996. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A Tennessee judge denied a motion on Tuesday to restrict media from a case involving a soccer coach accused of drugging and raping young boys.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Police in Franklin, Tennessee arrested Camilo Hurtado Campos earlier this month. According to police, a restaurant worker found Campos' cell phone, which contained a large quantity of disturbing pictures and videos of young boys being assaulted.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Police have confirmed Campos entered the United States illegally and resided in Franklin for more than 20 years.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Lawmakers like Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn want answers.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What we would like to know is how this individual had come into contact with local law enforcement on more than one occasion, how they were able to stay in the country, how they were able to clear a background check.
--:-- Georgia Howe: How you can let someone who is a criminal illegal alien, my goodness, they should be deported.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A hearing for Campos is slated for July 25th.
--:-- Georgia Howe: In Waltham, Massachusetts, a machete fight led to the arrest of three illegal aliens.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here with more is Daily Wire senior editor Joel Needler.
--:-- Joel Needler: Authorities say that 27-year-old Osman Aguilar Borayo, 21-year-old Kevin Aguilar Borayo, and 19-year-old Brian Aguilar Barayo were arrested last Friday around 6 p.m.
--:-- Joel Needler: Osman was arrested for armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery on a pregnant person, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and mayhem.
--:-- Joel Needler: His two younger brothers were arrested on mayhem charges.
--:-- Joel Needler: ICE says that all three crossed the southern border and were given an immigration hearings court date but never appeared.
--:-- Joel Needler: Now they face deportation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Country music star Jason Aldean defended his song "Try That in a Small Town" on Tuesday, after country music television pulled it from the airwaves amid backlash.
--:-- Georgia Howe: CMT confirmed to Billboard that it had removed the video from its rotation as of Monday, but refused to comment further on its decision.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Legacy media outlets put the song on blast this week, claiming the anti-riot lyrics are actually pro-lynching.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The song has been out since May, but gained new attention thanks to a newly released music video that has activists crying foul.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Americans have not one but two chances to win hundreds of millions of dollars in the lottery this week.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Mega Millions jackpot is now over $720 million and the Powerball purse is over $1 billion.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The next Powerball drawing is tonight and Mega Millions will be on Friday.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Those are your drive home updates this afternoon.
--:-- Georgia Howe: To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
