Kamala Harris and Al Sharpton to attend Tyre Nichols' funeral

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View online January 31, 2023 1/Kamala Harris and Al Sharpton to attend Tyre Nichols' funeral as seven officers suspended after beating Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the funeral of Tyre Nichols on Wednesday in Memphis, where the Rev Al Sharpton will deliver a eulogy and civil rights attorney Ben Crump will announce a "call to action" in the wake of the death of the 29-year-old Black man.   Nichols was pulled over for a traffic stop in Memphis on 7 January. He died three days later in hospital.   Footage of the fatal encounter was released on Friday, capturing Nichols being punched, kicked and beaten with batons. Five officers with the Memphis Police Department were fired and indicted on murder and kidnapping charges.   A sixth officer, identified as Preston Hemphill, who is white, was suspended with pay pending a hearing, and a seventh officer who was not immediately identified was relieved of duty without pay.   Nichols' parents – RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells – have accepted an invitation from the Congressional Black Caucus to attend President Joe Biden's State of the Union address next week.    2/ George Santos to step down from House committees after meeting with Kevin McCarthy The congressman now has little power outside of voting for legislation on the House floor 3/ Alex Murdaugh trial hears ammo matching types used in murders found at family home During searches of the Murdaugh property, steel shot ammo – specifically Winchester DryLok – was located, jurors heard 4/ Washington DC official charged with shooting dead 13-year-old he claimed was breaking into cars Jason Lewis, an employee at the Department of Parks and Recreation, faces second-degree murder charges in the death of Karon Blake 5/ Bill Gates pushes back on Jeffrey Epstein questions in new interview, says he regrets dinners The Microsoft founder appeared uncomfortable as he was grilled about his association with Epstein during a wide-ranging interview Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our welcome offer when you join today. The Big Question How will Nancy Mace stop the GOP from 'being a**holes to women'? When Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina walks into her office in the Longworth House Office building on Thursday, she stops to look at the television to see what Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has to say on the floor of the US Congress.   Earlier this month, the representatives wound up on the same side of a fight when they both supported Kevin McCarthy to become speaker of the House. But they haven't always had an easy relationship. In late 2021, the two engaged in a war of words after Ms Greene – the right-wing firebrand Republican who has peddled in conspiracy theories, antisemitism and racism – accused Ms Mace of being "pro-abort." That led to Ms Mace using emojis to call her "bats**t" and said "bless her f***ing heart."   The argument between the two was rooted in abortion since Ms Mace, while describing herself as "pro-baby, pro-gun, pro-pot, pro-gay," also supports exceptions for rape and incest and warned that Republicans would get blown out over the issue in November's midterms after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in its Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision last year. Her attempt to tone down the rhetoric around the issue reflects her larger difficulty in trying to find a middle ground between telling conservatives that they need to appeal to voters' more moderate senses while also trying to adhere to orthodoxy and be a loyal Republican. Read the full story > Watch/ What is a 'green comet' and where can you see it? NUMBER OF THE DAY 40m – The number of Americans living in the path of the freezing conditions and heavy downpours that are expected to sweep from the southern United States through central and eastern regions this week. QUOTE OF THE DAY "It's the height of hypocrisy for Speaker McCarthy to remove Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell – two members in good standing from their committees… while appointing a complete charlatan and utter fraud like George Santos on a committee." – New York Democrat Ritchie Torres slams Kevin McCarthy over his decision to give scandal-hit Republican congressman George Santos committee assignments. We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE Other stories you might like Man missing both legs dies after cops shot him at least eight times: 'How cold-hearted could they be?' 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