Senators urge Pentagon to investigate price gouging by military contractors after 60 Minutes report
CBSN
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators asked the Department of Defense to launch an investigation into longstanding price gouging by defense contractors Wednesday.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Sens. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Braun (D-IN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) said they were prompted by a six-month investigation by 60 Minutes that uncovered extensive price gouging. Experts told 60 Minutes that military contractors overcharge the Pentagon on almost everything the DOD buys each year.
"Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, and TransDigm are among the offenders, dramatically overcharging the Department and U.S. taxpayers while reaping enormous profits, seeing their stock prices soar, and handing out massive executive compensation packages," the senators wrote. "These companies have abused the trust government has placed in them, exploiting their position as sole suppliers for certain items to increase prices far above inflation or any reasonable profit margin."
Kilauea volcano, the home of Pele, Hawaii's volcano goddess, is erupting. The U.S. Geological Survey announced that the volcano started its eruption on Wednesday, just hours after an eruption watch was issued.
Washington — GOP Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, is pushing forward with an effort to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for failing to hand over a document detailing unconfirmed allegations of a bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national.
What to do during an air quality alert: Expert advice on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
Canadian wildfires are causing poor air quality in the northeastern U.S., posing a health danger to millions of people. Experts say the air is especially harmful for more vulnerable populations, including older people and those with lung or heart issues.
A woman who received a desperate text from her husband indicating he had been taken hostage said Tuesday that she called 911 but that police did not respond until about an hour later, by which time he had been shot and killed.
Tucker Carlson on Tuesday posted the first episode of his new Twitter show since Fox News ousted him in April. The 10-minute video features the popular conservative commentator sitting in a wood-paneled room and delivering a monologue in which he skewers some of his favorite targets, including the news media.
Chris Licht is stepping down as CEO of global news network CNN, according to Oliver Darcy, CNN's senior media reporter.
Smoke from the wildfires raging across Canada has created a thick haze across New York City's iconic skyline, nearly fading out the Statue of Liberty and high-rises. The quality of air has become so bad in the past few days that now, the city has some of the worst air pollution in the world.
"Charmed" and "Beverly Hills, 90210" actor Shannen Doherty said on Instagram Tuesday that her breast cancer, which she was first diagnosed with in 2015, has spread to her brain.
Redmond, Ore — Someone left a dead raccoon and a sign with "intimidating language" that mentioned a Black city councilor outside the law office of an Oregon mayor, police said.
The mystery client who hired a detective to secretly track Reno's mayor with a GPS device is trying to persuade Nevada's Supreme Court he has a First Amendment right to remain anonymous, a protected privilege he says is a cornerstone of democracy and part of "the business of politics."
House Republican leaders hoping to pass a rule Monday to set up floor votes on a bill to constrain the government's ability to regulate gas stoves saw their efforts go up in flames after House Freedom Caucus (HFC) members, who are among the most conservative lawmakers in Congress, joined Democrats in opposing the rule.