10 things you need to know today: July 24, 2019

1. Trump sues to block the release of his New York tax returns

President Trump on Tuesday sued New York officials and the House Ways and Means Committee to prevent congressional Democrats from obtaining his state tax returns. The House panel has subpoenaed Trump's federal tax records and followed up with its own lawsuit when the Trump administration refused to hand them over. New York state legislators then passed a law that could give the House committee access to Trump's state returns. Trump's lawsuit says that state legislators passed the law because of opposition to Trump's politics. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the legislation rested on solid legal ground, and vowed to "vigorously defend it against any court challenge."

The New York Times Reuters

2. Mueller heads into testimony before 2 House committees

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller will appear before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees on Wednesday to answer questions about his report on Russian election meddling and possible obstruction of justice by President Trump. One of his longtime aides, Aaron Zebley, will be allowed to sit by his side during the Judiciary Committee hearing, according to media reports. At the last minute, Mueller requested Zebley be sworn in as a witness, but the committee instead said Zebley could be there to provide Mueller counsel, offering guidance on how to answer questions. Zebley oversaw day-to-day operations of the two-year investigation.

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3. Boris Johnson formally takes over as U.K. prime minister

Boris Johnson officially replaces Theresa May as Britain's prime minister on Wednesday following an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who will formally ask him to form a government. After taking over, Johnson is expected to announce a series of key Cabinet appointments. Johnson, who formerly served as London mayor and foreign secretary, was a Brexit campaigner, and he will have just three months to deliver on his promise to lead the U.K. out of the European Union, with or without a divorce deal. Johnson beat out Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, winning the backing of 66 percent of the members of the ruling Conservative Party in the race to succeed May, who is leaving after failing to persuade lawmakers to accept her proposed Brexit deal.

BBC News The Associated Press

4. Senate votes to extend fund for 9/11 first responders

The Senate on Tuesday voted to extend the Victim Compensation Fund for 9/11 first responders, ensuring it will not run out of money. The bill passed by a count of 97-2 with Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) serving as the only holdouts. If approved by President Trump, the bill would extend the fund until 2092. As the fund began to dwindle, a group of first responders, along with former Daily Show host Jon Stewart, led the charge for the extension, testifying on the bill's necessity before Congress. "Congress can never repay these men, women, and families for their sacrifices," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. "But we can do our small part to try and make our heroes whole."

The Associated Press The Washington Post

5. Immigration roundup targeting 2,100 netted 35 arrests

An immigration enforcement roundup targeting 2,100 people led to 35 arrests, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing officials. President Trump touted the operation targeting families of undocumented immigrants as part of a push to deport "millions" of people in response to a wave of immigrants from Central America. Of the 35 arrested, 18 were members of families, although none of the arrests resulted in family separations. A separate operation targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions or charges produced 899 arrests. "Part of the way you stop people from coming is having a consequence to the illegal activity when you do come," said acting ICE Director Matthew Albence. He added that the operations would be ongoing.

The Associated Press

6. Senate overwhelmingly confirms Mark Esper as defense secretary

The Senate voted 90-8 on Tuesday to confirm Mark Esper as defense secretary. Esper had served as acting secretary since last month, when Patrick Shanahan stepped out of the same role following reports of domestic violence within his family. Before Esper was confirmed with bipartisan support, the defense secretary role had not been permanently filled since former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis left over policy differences with President Trump. Esper, a West Point graduate and Gulf War veteran, has served as a top civilian Pentagon official, a lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon, and an adviser to Republican lawmakers. His confirmation restores leadership at the Pentagon as the U.S. faces a host of security threats, including rising tensions with Iran.

The Washington Post

7. Navy might have downed a second Iranian drone

A U.S. Navy ship that the Trump administration said had "destroyed" an Iranian drone last week took defensive action against a second Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, but did not see the drone hit the water, the U.S. military said Tuesday. American forces observed one of the unmanned aerial systems "crash into the water but did not observe a 'splash' for the other," Lt. Colonel Earl Brown, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said. Earlier in the day, U.S. Central Command head Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said the U.S. was confident it "brought down one drone, we may have brought down a second." The incidents stoked already rising tensions in the region after the U.S. blamed Tehran for a string of attacks on shipping in the area, a gateway for exports of oil out of the Persian Gulf.

Reuters

8. DOJ opens broad antitrust review of major tech firms

The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it had opened an antitrust investigation into whether big technology companies use their online platforms to stifle competition. Tech giants have been facing rising criticism over privacy breaches. Lawmakers have been pushing for tougher regulations for leading tech companies, with some even calling for breaking them up. President Trump has accused companies such as Facebook and Google of treating him and other conservatives unfairly. The Justice Department did not identify the companies it is targeting. Industry leaders, including Amazon and Facebook, did not immediately comment on the news.

The Associated Press

9. ICE releases U.S. citizen after 3 weeks of wrongful detention

Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a Dallas-born U.S. citizen, Francisco Galicia, from custody Tuesday night, more than three weeks after he was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents while crossing into Texas from Mexico on June 27. Galicia was "absolutely" racially profiled, his lawyer Claudia Galan said. He had his Texas state ID with him but no passport, and he was unable to place any phone calls until he was transferred into ICE custody on Saturday after three weeks in the custody of Border Patrol, which isn't supposed to hold people more than 72 hours. Galicia was then able to call his mother. The Dallas Morning News published an article on his wrongful detention Monday. Neither ICE nor U.S. Customs and Border Protection immediately commented.

The Associated Press

10. Puerto Rico Gov. Rosselló expected to resign after protests

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is expected to announce his resignation on Wednesday after mounting protests over leaked homophobic and misogynistic private chat messages between him and members of his inner circle. Rosselló said Sunday he would finish his term but not seek re-election in 2020. That wasn't enough to satisfy his critics, though. Hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. Caribbean territory launched a strike Monday demanding that Rosselló quit, and protests continued in front of the governor's mansion. "I am fed up with the thieving government," protester Maristella Gross said at a Monday protest. "I am fed up with corruption. I am fed up with lack of integrity." Rosselló's chief of staff submitted his resignation this week.

CNN