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What updates are there on the US military's blockade of Iranian ports?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The US military says no ships have evaded its blockade of Iranian ports. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports a dozen US warships and more than 100 aircraft have been enforcing the naval blockade that began yesterday morning. We have more from NPR's Quill Lawrence.
U.S. Central Command states on social media that no vessels headed to or from Iran have passed the Strait of Hormuz since the American blockade began, and that six merchant ships had obeyed U.S. orders to return back to Iranian ports. CENTCOM says the blockade will be enforced against any nation's ships and allows free navigation in and out of the Persian Gulf, except for Iranian ports.
Iran, for its part, has effectively blocked any other commerce through the Strait for weeks, with the mere threat of Iranian mines and drone attacks keeping all but a trickle of shipping anchored in the Gulf. Iran has charged a few ships millions of dollars for safe passage. Now, the U.S. blockade will likely end that practice. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
California Democrat Eric Swalwell says he's resigning from Congress over allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from multiple women who first shared their experiences with CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle. NPR has not independently verified the accusations, and Swalwell has publicly denied them as recently as yesterday.
As NPR's Elena Moore tells us, another woman has now come forward with new sexual assault allegations.
Speaking at a press conference in Beverly Hills, Lana Drews says Congressman Swalwell drugged her drink and then sexually assaulted her back in 2018.
While he was choking me, I lost consciousness. And I thought I died.
Drew says at the time she was working as a model, but also had an interest in local politics. She says she delayed taking action against Swalwell out of fear, but now says she plans to make a report to law enforcement with her attorneys. Swalwell has not responded to this latest allegation with any public comment. Elena Moore, NPR News.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked an effort to investigate former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other top Trump officials for possible criminal contempt. NPR's Ximena Bustillo with the latest.
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