White House Disavows Senator's Call for Assassination of Putin

The Biden administration is not advocating for regime change in Russia, the White House said Friday, after a U.S. senator called for Russians to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

“That is not the position of the U.S. government and certainly not a statement you’ll hear from — coming from the mouth of — anybody working for the administration,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in response to a question from Voice of America.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, suggested in a televised interview Thursday evening that “somebody in Russia” should assassinate Putin. He repeated his statement Friday in another televised appearance on Fox News Channel.

“How does this end? Somebody in Russia has to step up to the plate … and take this guy out,” Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Following the interview, Graham posted on Twitter, “The only people who can fix this are the Russian people.”

“Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military?” the senator wrote. Marcus Junius Brutus assassinated Roman ruler Julius Caesar, while German army officer Claus von Stauffenberg tried but failed to assassinate German leader Adolf Hitler in July 1944.

Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, called Graham’s comments “unacceptable and outrageous” and said they expressed “off the scale” hatred in the United States toward Russia.

He demanded “official explanations and a strong condemnation of the criminal statements.”

U.S. lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, also criticized Graham’s comments.

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz called Graham’s proposal “an exceptionally bad idea,” while Democratic Reprepresentative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted: “I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWIII.”

Graham introduced a resolution in Congress condemning Putin and his military commanders for committing “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in Ukraine.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

What is behind the shooting and assassination attack in the southeast of Cali? - Cali, Colombia

The Metropolitan Police of Cali and the Prosecutor’s Office seek to establish the motives for the double assassination crime that occurred on the city’s Southeast highway.

The events occurred on Tuesday afternoon, when a man, about 18 years old, would have shot another 38, in the Cañaveralejo neighborhood.

According to the police, The 18-year-old was allegedly investigated for illegal possession of firearms.

(Also read: A basketball team plays for the transsexual girls of Cali)

The victim had annotations for lack of food, insult by way of fact and domestic violence.

When the shooting occurred, the 18-year-old man fired at his target, who was traveling in a van.

Another of the occupants of the vehicle shot at the alleged assailant and seriously wounded him, causing his death.

(Also: In Cali they will expand the rumba from March 15, know the new schedule

“At the site, a 38-caliber revolver was found with six percussion cartridges, the same one that had been used by the 18-year-old person to commit the crime, who was also found with another revolver hidden in his clothing with six more cartridges” , explained the deputy commander of the Cali Metropolitan Police, Colonel William Quintero.

The authorities are investigating whether behind this hitman attack there was a settling of scores related to alleged criminal activity or personal revenge.

(Also read: They block the Pan-American highway, between Popayán and Cali)

The alleged assailant died at the scene of these shots.

The victim was taken to a medical center.

“He was carrying two pistol magazines and 15 cartridges,” the officer said.

CALI

Barranquilla: assassination of professor Frank Morales of Uniatlantico - Barranquilla - Colombia

A hitman murdered this Saturday the professor of Philosophy at the Universidad del Atlántico, Frank Moralesin the El Pueblito neighborhood, in the Suroccidente locality, in Barranquilla.

(Also read: Video: outrage in Barranquilla for a woman who beats a child under 11 months)

According to the Metropolitan Police, the individual arrived accompanied by another subject in a taxi to the home of the teacher and researcher. He waited for him to leave the house and took the opportunity to shoot him repeatedly.

According to relatives, the victim was going to go to the Ernesto Cortissoz airport to travel to Mexico, where he was scheduled to give a lecture.

After committing the crime in Carrera 11 with Calle 119, the individuals fled in an unknown direction. The assassin was hooded.

Authorities carry out investigations

The citizen in question had been captured and was in a prison for acts related to drug trafficking

The operational commander of the Barranquilla Metropolitan Police, Lieutenant Colonel Luis Sandoval, reported that the authorities are investigating with intelligence units the criminal act.

“We have a very clear line of investigation, ruling out theft. It should be noted that the citizen in question had been captured and was in a prison for acts related to drug trafficking, “said the officer.

He added that they have clues, information from the community and technological resources that can bring them closer to identifying those responsible for this case.

Universidad del Atlántico regretted the fact

We ask the authorities to act promptly

The rector of the Universidad del Atlántico, Danilo Hernandez, lamented the murder of Professor Frank Morales. The manager spoke about it through his Twitter account.

“We ask the authorities to act promptly and diligently to do justice for this horrible crime,” Hernández said.

Very unfortunate the murder of Professor Frank Morales of the @udeatlantico ,God rest his soul. We ask the authorities to act promptly and diligently to bring justice for this horrible crime.

— Danilo Hernandez (@danilohernandez) February 19, 2022

(You may be interested in: They denounce attacks on young people who were teaching against vote buying)

Likewise, the educational institution rejected the event and confirmed that it was assigned to the Philosophy program of the Faculty of Human Sciences.

“In his work, Frank Morales always stood out for his contributions to philosophical research and publications in recognized scientific journals, he had several years of service in the institution and was currently linked as an occasional part-time teacher,” reported Uniatlantico.

BARRANQUILLA

More content from Colombia:

– Video: Shocking images of the winter emergency in the north of Nariño

– Coastal protection works in Cartagena would affect heritage

Police are accused of shooting a man and taking his life