Maryland
Transcript: Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland on
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The following is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, that aired on March 17, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Maryland Democrat, Senator Chris Van Hollen. Senator, a lot to get to with you but I do know you met with some families of hostage members, this past- family members of hostages, excuse me, this past week. Talks are about to resume. What did the hostage families tell you?
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, they- they came and talked about the- the terror every day of not knowing what’s happening to their family members. And they were very clear, we need to focus on getting the hostages back and a ceasefire. And this is why I’m for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that ceasefire would also allow for aid to move in. That’s what the Biden administration is championing. I want to go to some specific things that I know you’re focusing on. There’s this government funding debate happening in the next few days. Some Republicans want to cut off support for the UN agency, UNRWA, that supports about 6 million Palestinian refugees, Lebanon, Jordan, Gaza Strip, West Bank. You said last week, senators need to read the classified report prepared by the Director of National Intelligence about the Netanyahu government claims about that agency. You seem to be implying that the links to terror groups are unfounded.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Oh, there’s no doubt that the- the claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu and others are making, that somehow UNRWA is a proxy for Hamas, are just flat out lies. That’s a flat out lie. If you look at the person who’s in charge of operations on the ground in Gaza for UNRWA, it’s about a 20 year U.S. Army veteran. You can be sure he is not in cahoots with Hamas. Netanyahu has wanted to get rid of UNRWA since at least 2017. That’s been his goal, not just in Gaza, but also in the other places you talked about. And if you get rid of UNRWA in Gaza today, it is the primary distribution system for food and aid. So if you cut off funding for UNRWA and Gaza entirely, it means more people will starve, more people won’t get the medical assistance they need. And so it would be a huge mistake to cut them off.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Can you explain why you believe that the Prime Minister is trying to dismantle UNRWA, which is the agency that has 13,000 people distributing aid? No one else has that kind of infrastructure in Gaza.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, that’s exactly right. And there have been allegations made by the Netanyahu government that up to 14 of those 13,000 people were involved in the horrific October 7 attacks. We should investigate it, we should hold all those people accountable. But for goodness sakes, let’s not hold 2 million innocent Palestinian civilians who are dying of starvation, let’s not hold them, essentially, accountable for the bad acts of 14 people. Netanyahu has wanted to get rid of UNRWA because he has seen them as a- a means to continue the hopes of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own. And he has been opposed to a two state solution. And this has been his primary objective, stopping a two state solution.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Back in February, you pushed the Biden administration to craft what ended up being a National Security Memorandum that requires countries who receive U.S. weapons, all countries, to certify that they are in compliance with U.S. law, and they are not blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel has until March 24 to turn in a letter, they reportedly did so. Are they in compliance?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: No they’re not, not as of today. And you’re right. This is a very important tool that the Biden administration’s put forward, applies to Israel and any other country that receives U.S. military assistance.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will President Biden’s administration say that they’re not in compliance? Are you confident?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: I hope they will, because President Biden himself has repeatedly said that the Netanyahu government is unnecessarily restricting desperately needed humanitarian assistance. I mean, the President has said it a number of times, he’s said no excuses. So it may be that the Minister of Defense in Israel signed this. But I cannot imagine a scenario right now, where Secretary Blinken can find that that promise is credible and reliable when the day it was signed, clearly the Netanyahu government is not in compliance, because we see that they’re continuing to restrict humanitarian assistance.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll watch to see if Secretary Blinken affirms it or denies it. But what’s the consequence here? I know you’ve said you don’t want to cut off all military support for Israel. You’re talking about offensive weapons.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Yes, this- this would not apply to the Iron Dome or any defensive systems but it would say, you know, no more bombs for use in Gaza until you come into compliance. So It’s not a total cut off. I mean, the Netanyahu government can open the Erez Crossing to help starving people in northern Gaza. They can stop turning away maternity kits, you know, claiming that somehow they pose a dual use danger that they could be used for military purposes, they could stop turning away water purifiers. Because when they do that they send the whole truck back for four weeks. So they need to allow more assistance in, and they need to really deal with that deconfliction issue. People need to be able to deliver assistance without getting killed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, and the U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield, who works for the Biden administration, has said that police have been hit while helping UN convoys be delivered. Do you believe that the Israeli government’s deliberately targeting to stop humanitarian aid deliveries? Because the Israeli government denies that.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, we know in the case of, I think about six of the so-called blue helmeted, you know, security escorts, that they were targeted, because Israel claimed that they were part of Hamas when they were sort of- so- so we know in that case, that was a deliberate targeting. But you’re right. There have been other cases where Israel has- has, you know, used force, and a convoy, for example, in the north passed the inspection and then was hit by a naval missile. I do want to point out also, Margaret, that Ambassador Satterfield has said very clearly that when it comes to UN provided humanitarian assistance, like humanitarian assistance through UNRWA, there’s been no evidence of diversion to Hamas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that–
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: So he’s said this very, very clearly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –and all of Congress has received that information?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: I have tried to tell my colleagues who keep coming back from meeting with Netanyahu government officials spreading this- this lie, this myth about diversion from UNRWA. Now there may be diversion in other places, but not from UNRWA.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, we’ll watch what happens in the coming days. We’ll be back in a moment.
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Maryland
Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West
![Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/31/422a855f-71c5-4f72-89e9-eaf7e2840b03/thumbnail/1200x630/74b3d1b1856d7b1a33196394c2d71589/capture.png?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
BALTIMORE – Severe storms have been plaguing western Maryland this afternoon. They are on the move east and will push into Carroll County near the 6pm hour. These storms have a history of producing winds capable of downing trees. We are also seeing heavy rain and lightning.
Most of the activity will push north and south of the forecast area surrounding Baltimore with the marine layer or stable air mass keeping the severe weather west of the mountain regions.
The warm front associated with the severe weather is bring warm, humid air in overnight. Expect overnight lows in the low 70s with scattered showers and isolated severe storms.
A secondary cold front will bring another chance for an isolated strong storms on Sunday. The day won’t be a washout, there is the possibility of active weather in the afternoon and evening.
The front will bring bright sunny skies for Monday with low humidity. Perfect weather for the afternoon barbecue or last summer activity. Kids getting back to school this week should expect refreshing temperatures… possibly even a little chilly with overnight lows in the 50s.
High pressure will control our weather for the middle of the week. Expect sunny skies and low humidity through Friday. Overnight lows Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the mid 50s, with afternoon highs in the upper 70s. The chance of showers returns late Friday.
Maryland
How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn
![How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z8YP2-NIqaP3cu5cgluRlDhjBJY=/0x251:3503x2085/fit-in/1200x630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25597082/usa_today_22254966.jpg)
Maryland football is back and kicks off its season at home against UConn on Saturday.
The Terps will take on the Huskies for first time since 2013, when Maryland won, 32-21. The Terps are coming off an 8-5 season, in which they won their third straight bowl game, while UConn is coming off a disappointing 3-9 season and looking to play spoiler on the road.
With a victory, Maryland will move its week one winning streak to five games.
The numbers
Maryland: 0-0
UConn: 0-0
All-time series: Maryland leads, 2-1
DraftKings Sportsbook line: Maryland -19.5, O/U 44.5
How to watch and listen
When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 12 p.m. ET
Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland
TV: Fox Sports 1 — Connor Onion (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980 AM (DC) – Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Steve Suter (analyst), LaMont Jordan (sideline)
Streaming: Fox Sports
Catch up before the game
Previewing Maryland football’s season opener against UConn
Predictions for Maryland football’s 2024 season: Top players, bold takes and more
Breaking down every game on Maryland football’s schedule
Maryland
Maryland Supreme Court reinstates Adnan Syed murder conviction, orders new hearing
BALTIMORE— Maryland’s Supreme Court has upheld an appellate court’s decision to reinstate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, whose case gained national attention in 2014 when it was featured on the first season of the “Serial” podcast.
The ruling says the case should be sent back to a lower court for a new hearing on whether it should be thrown out entirely. The decision reverses a lower court’s ruling that had cleared Syed’s name two years ago.
Syed had served more than 20 years for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.
He was freed from prison in September 2022 after Baltimore prosecutors found flaws in the evidence presented at trial and a judge agreed to vacate his conviction.
However, Lee’s relatives appealed the decision, contending they didn’t receive sufficient notice to attend the hearing that set Syed free. In March 2023, the Maryland Appellate Court agreed and reinstated Syed’s conviction and ordered a redo of the hearing.
Syed appealed that ruling, bringing the matter to the Maryland Supreme Court. Friday’s ruling comes 11 months after arguments were made.
Justices found the circuit court violated the rights of Young Lee, Hae Min Lee’s brother.
“In an effort to remedy what they perceived to be an injustice to Mr. Syed, the prosecutor and the Circuit Court worked an injustice against Mr. Lee,” the court said.
Syed will remain free until the next hearing which has not been scheduled. The Supreme Court ordered the Lee family must have sufficient notice of the new hearing and a new judge must preside.
“If there’s actually evidence presented that shows that Adnan Syed should not have been convicted, we would be the first ones to congratulate Adnan Syed and argue he should be a free man,” said David Sanford, the attorney for the Lee family. “That hasn’t happened yet.”
In their dissenting opinions, several justices wrote when the case was vacated, any appeal by Young Lee should’ve been rendered moot. Those justices also argued there aren’t any specific victims’ rights that would require Young Lee be allowed to be present at that 2022 hearing.
Syed’s lawyer Erica Suter said that while they disagree with the ruling, the Lee family’s pain in this isn’t lost on them.
“Wrongful convictions devastate the wrongly accused, their family and the family of the victim,” Suter said. “Reinstating Adnan’s wrongful conviction does not provide justice or closure.”
Rabia Chaudry, Syed’s friend and advocate, went on Instagram Live to affirm that she will do what she can to keep Syed a free man.
“I will never not fight for his freedom and I know there are others, also, in his life who will never not fight for his freedom,” Chaudry said.
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