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US judge grants DOJ request to dismiss January 6 cases against Oath Keepers

2026-08-04 20:48:43 GMT / Reuters

Members of the Oath Keepers militia group stand among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump occupying the east front steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021. Picture… Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tabRead more

• Summary

• Ruling vacates seditious conspiracy convictions of Stewart Rhodes and other Oath Keepers members
• All nine defendants were already freed under Trump clemency order
• Judge says prosecutors had authority to drop cases despite his strong ​disagreement

WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Tuesday granted the U.S. Justice Department’s request to dismiss cases against members of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia who took part in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a court filing.

The ​ruling from Washington-based U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta tosses out convictions of Oath Keepers founder ​Stewart Rhodes and other members of the group who were convicted of seditious conspiracy ⁠for plotting to stop the transfer of power after President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

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All ​the defendants had already been freed from prison as part of Trump’s sweeping move to pardon nearly all ​1,600 people charged in the attack and commute the prison sentences of the remaining defendants.

Mehta, who presided over the two seditious conspiracy trials in 2022 and 2023, wrote in his ruling that he strongly disagreed with the Trump Justice ​Department’s decision, but concluded prosecutors had the authority to drop the cases.

“Today’s epilogue diminishes the gravity ​of that day, denigrates the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who secured these convictions, and excuses ‌criminal acts ⁠that caused a centuries-long pillar of our democracy — the peaceful transfer of presidential power — to buckle,” Mehta wrote. “The court cannot write a different ending.”

The Justice Department also moved to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions of members of the far-right Proud Boys group for their role in the Capitol attack. Members of ​a pro-Trump mob stormed the ​Capitol on January ⁠6, 2021, in a failed attempt to stop congressional certification of Trump’s defeat.

The eight defendants whose cases were dismissed on Tuesday were among the few ​January 6 defendants whom Trump did not fully pardon, meaning their convictions would have ​stood without ⁠the Justice Department’s decision to intervene.

Prosecutors argued dismissal was appropriate given Trump’s order to drop all pending January 6 cases on the first day of his second term. Trump has said that January 6 defendants were mistreated ⁠and that ​their prosecutions were an abuse of the legal system, though ​the Justice Department did not make those arguments in seeking dismissal of the case.

Several members of the Oath Keepers had appealed ​their convictions.

Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, Ismail Shakil and Jasper Ward; Editing by Michelle Nichols and Lisa Shumaker

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State Department revokes visa for Brazil’s ambassador to U.S.

August 4, 2026 7:10 PM EDT / CBS News

By Olivia Gazis
Olivia Gazis covers intelligence and international security matters for CBS News. Twice Emmy-nominated, she has traveled worldwide with the secretary of state and contributes reporting on intelligence, foreign policy and other security topics across CBS News broadcast, radio, online and streaming platforms.

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Jordan Freiman News Editor
Jordan Freiman is a news editor for CBSNews.com. He covers breaking news, trending stories, sports and crime. Jordan has previously worked at Spin and Death and Taxes.

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The State Department has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, according to a senior department official, marking the latest escalation in a growing diplomatic dispute between Washington and Brasília.

The official said the visa for Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti would be reinstated immediately if Brazil grants diplomatic approval, known as agrément, for President Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Perez. Brazil has withheld approval for Perez, who currently serves as Republican speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and is a close ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, preventing him from taking up the post.

“They have not only delayed, but put out signals that they will probably delay until after their election there, which is a long time coming,” the official said, adding that the dispute comes “in the context of several other diplomatic disputes that have developed over the last year or so.”

The official said Washington believes “the government of Brazil owes us a prompt and positive answer” on the ambassadorial request.

Brazil’s embassy and Foreign Ministry did not immediately reply to CBS News’ request for comment.

The visa dispute follows Brazil’s earlier decision in July to deny visas to two U.S. State Department officials, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the country’s upcoming October elections by questioning the integrity of its voting system. The State Department has rejected those allegations as baseless, saying the planned visit by officials from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor was part of a routine engagement.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is up for reelection, going against Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The former president, an ally of Mr. Trump, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in an attempted coup following his loss in the 2022 election.

The ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Brazil also include the levying of 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil last month, with Washington citing what it called unfair trade practices, including its rules regulating U.S. tech platforms.

Lula condemned the tariffs, denying “the alleged unfair trade practices” and adding, “There is no justification for unilateral measures against our country. According to statistics from the U.S. government itself, the United States has accumulated a surplus of $424.5 billion in goods and services with Brazil over the past 15 years.”

Lula, prior to the tariffs going into effect, suggested the decision was political in nature and blamed the younger Bolsonaro, who had recently visited Washington.

Shortly after that May visit, the Trump administration moved to classify two Brazilian drug trafficking groups, Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital, as foreign terrorist organizations. Lula also harshly criticized that move, saying at a public event, “We will not accept being treated like children, we will not accept being treated as if we were a banana republic,” according to Reuters, accusing Rubio of saying “that our criminals are terrorists and that Americans can intervene.”

韩国上半年每卖三辆电动车 逾一辆为中国制造

2026-08-05 07:53 / 联合早报

今年上半年，韩国新售出的电动汽车中，超过三分之一为中国制造。

韩联社报道，根据韩国汽车移动产业协会星期二（8月4日）发布的报告，今年1月至6月在韩国新登记的中国制造电动汽车为6万9513辆，同比暴增178.7%。

据分析，中国制造电动汽车销量大幅增长，主要得益于特斯拉中国上海超级工厂生产的ModelY、Model3进口量走高，加上比亚迪、极星等中国品牌加码韩国市场布局。

中新社星期二引述特斯拉中国报道，特斯拉上海超级工厂今年7月交付整车超9万3000辆，创今年单月交付新高，同比增长37.8%，环比增长5%。

Judge slams the Justice Department as he ‘reluctantly’ dismisses final January 6 riot case

2026-08-04 6:36 PM ET / CNN

By Holmes Lybrand

Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, attends a hearing with the House Select Subcommittee on January 6 in the Rayburn House Office Building on January 14, 2026.

Heather Diehl/Getty Images

A federal judge slammed the Justice Department as he “reluctantly” dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against leaders and members of the Oath Keepers in the final January 6 US Capitol riot case.

“This is the last of the prosecutions seeking to hold accountable those responsible for the events of January 6,” Judge Amit Mehta wrote in his order dismissing cases against nine people in which he recounted the events of that day. “That book is now closed.”

“Today’s epilogue diminishes the gravity of that day, denigrates the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who secured these convictions, and excuses criminal acts that caused a centuries-long pillar of our democracy — the peaceful transfer of presidential power – to buckle,” Mehta wrote. “The court cannot write a different ending.”

The end was heralded first by President Donald Trump’s commutations and pardons of all those involved in the January 6, 2021, attack, one of the first acts of his second term, followed only by Trump’s Justice Department asking that the seditious conspiracy case be dismissed.

“The government thus asks to absolve these Defendants of crimes against the United States itself,” Mehta wrote. “In this court’s view, that is not in the public interest.”

Mehta oversaw the case against the Oath Keepers – the first that brought seditious conspiracy charges against members of the mob – including sentencing, when he gave the group’s leader, Stewart Rhodes, 18 years behind bars for his actions surrounding that day.

During his sentencing for seditious conspiracy and other charges, Mehta said Rhodes had organized Oath Keeper teams that day he had helped bring to Washington, DC, and gave orders to go into the Capitol.

Several members, in a distinct stack-formation which garnered attention as the attack unfolded, entered the building and engaged in several confrontations with police officers inside.

Members and leaders of the group had plotted out a quick-reaction-force in Virginia and had amassed a number of firearms and ammunition in Virginia for January 6. The group, however, was not used, organized or deployed that day.

In writing about the Justice Department’s motion to toss the case, Mehta wrote “this court does strongly disagree.”

“But that alone is not a valid basis to deny the motion,” he wrote, adding that “the court must give way to the primacy of the Executive Branch in making charging decisions.”

Virginia’s key 2nd District to host rematch between incumbent GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans and Democrat Elaine Luria

August 4, 2026 / 7:41 PM EDT / CBS News

By Caitlin Yilek

Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.

Virginia’s highly competitive 2nd Congressional District will see a rematch in November.

Former Democratic congresswoman Elaine Luria won her party’s primary on Tuesday, CBS News projects, and will face GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans in the general election. Luria beat three other candidates to win the nomination.

Luria, who held the seat for two terms, lost to Kiggans in 2022 after redistricting made the area more favorable to Republicans.

The military-heavy district — which includes Virginia’s Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach — has flipped parties four times since 2008. In 2021, it voted for Republican Glenn Youngkin for governor, then supported Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger four years later. The district voted for former President Joe Biden in 2020 but for President Trump in 2024.

Democrats tried earlier this year to redraw the state’s congressional districts to be more friendly to their party in all but one district, but the voter-approved measure was struck down by the state Supreme Court, leaving the old district boundaries in place.

The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics rates the race a toss-up.

Luria, 20-year Navy veteran, was first elected to Congress in 2018. She was part of a group of Democratic women with national security backgrounds who helped their party win back control of the House after eight years of a Republican majority.

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Kiggans is also a Navy veteran, serving as a helicopter pilot for a decade.

Trump admin revokes Brazilian ambassador’s visa in escalating diplomatic feud

August 4, 2026 7:13pm EDT / Fox News

A State Department spokesperson described the decision as a ‘reciprocal’ response

By Sophia Compton, Fox News

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on FoxNews.com.

The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States amid escalating tensions between Washington and Brasília.

“We communicated continually with the Brazilian government for weeks and have given the Brazilian government every opportunity to do the right thing, yet they have continually delayed and obfuscated,” a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The spokesperson said Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti has not been declared persona non grata. However, she would have to reapply for a visa if she leaves the U.S.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CRACKS DOWN ON BRAZIL’S BIGGEST DRUG GANGS WITH ‘GLOBAL TERROR’ DESIGNATION

The U.S. Department of State building is seen in Washington, D.C. The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States.(Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images, File)

The move came after Brazil denied visas to two American diplomats last month and delayed approving former Florida House Speaker Danny Perez, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as ambassador to the South American country, according to The Associated Press.

“This is a reciprocal action,” the spokesperson said, adding that further diplomatic measures remain possible if Brazil continues to delay or refuses to approve Perez.

Viotti is not being expelled from the U.S. and could resume her duties if Brazil approves Perez, The Associated Press reported.

TRUMP DOJ UNLEASHES LARGEST DENATURALIZATION EFFORT IN DEPARTMENT HISTORY — AND SAYS IT’S ‘ONLY THE BEGINNING’

Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti has had her visa revoked by the Trump administration.(Wolfgang Kumm/DPA/AFP via Getty Images, File)

Last month, Brazil denied visas to Riley Barnes, the State Department’s assistant Secretary of State for democracy, human rights and labor, as well as one of Barnes’ top aides, the outlet reported.

The State Department said the pair planned a routine visit to Brazil focused on election integrity, religious freedom and freedom of expression, rejecting claims that they had intended to criticize Lula or the election process.

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER’S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva speaks at the Workers’ Party national convention Sunday in São Paulo, Brazil.(Miguel Schincariol / AFP via Getty Images)

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President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in the Oct. 4 election, according to The Associated Press.

The dispute also comes as the Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 37.5% on thousands of Brazilian exports and designated two major Brazilian drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sophia Compton is a Writer at Fox News Digital. Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Story tips can be sent to sophia.compton@fox.com.

US Senator Wyden urges regulators to probe Wall Street banks over Epstein accounts

2026-08-04T20:51:28.063Z / Reuters

Bank of America logo appears in this illustration taken December 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

• Summary
• Companies

• Wyden report says JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, BofA should be probed over Epstein-linked transactions
• JPMorgan says it flagged activity from 2002 and after closing Epstein’s accounts
• House committee in July heard testimony from Goldman and Barclays figures on other Epstein dealings

Aug 4 (Reuters) – U.S. Democratic Senator Ron ​Wyden called for federal regulators to probe big banks over their handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s accounts after surfacing ​what Wyden said was potential evidence that the banks failed to report suspicious transactions linked to the late convicted sex offender.

In a report released on Tuesday, Wyden alleged that Bank of America

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, Deutsche Bank

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and JPMorgan Chase

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may have violated federal anti-money laundering laws by failing to report Epstein’s suspicious transactions ​in a timely manner.

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Wyden’s four-year investigation included a review of so-called suspicious activity reports (SARs) which banks file to the Treasury ​Department, materials from lawsuits and court filings, and information the senator sought from Wall Street banks and ⁠the U.S. Treasury.

Bank of America failed to properly screen and report $170 million in payments to Epstein, Wyden’s report said, adding that ​the bank years later concluded in suspicious activity reports that the transactions had no verifiable business purpose.

“We take our legal and regulatory ​obligations seriously and, as we have previously said, the bank did not facilitate wrongdoing,” a BofA spokesperson said.

Deutsche Bank failed to report on time more than $250 million in suspicious wire transfers tied to Epstein, including payments to women in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe, the report said. Deutsche Bank ​said in a statement that it takes its legal obligations seriously and regrets its historical connection with Epstein.

Wyden’s report also alleged that ​JPMorgan delayed reporting over $1 billion in suspicious Epstein-linked transfers to the Treasury, including payments to women in Russia and Belarus.

A spokesperson for the bank ​said this ⁠was false. “We began flagging suspicious transactions for the government as early as 2002 and throughout our relationship…even after we closed his accounts,” she said. “We acted appropriately on what we knew, when we knew it, as the law requires.”

Epstein was a JPMorgan client from 1998 until the bank cut him off in 2013, years after he pleaded guilty to prostitution-related charges. Deutsche took him on as a client in ​2013 after JPMorgan closed his ​accounts.

“We have cooperated with regulatory ⁠and law enforcement agencies regarding their investigations and have been transparent in addressing deficiencies and investing in strengthening our control environment in parallel,” a Deutsche Bank spokesperson said.

Reuters couldn’t verify the details of ​the report.

An administration official said Treasury does not comment on investigations, including to confirm or deny ​whether one exists. ⁠Treasury has fully cooperated with valid requests for information from Congress, the official said.

Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by New York City’s medical examiner.

Wyden is one of several lawmakers ⁠probing Epstein’s ​relationships on Wall Street. Lawmakers on the U.S. Congress House Oversight Committee also ​last month heard testimony from Goldman Sachs’

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former top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler and former Barclays CEO Jes Staley over their dealings with Epstein.

Both have said they were unaware of ​Epstein’s crimes.

Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Tatiana Bautzer and Tom Sims; Editing by Michelle Price and David Gaffen

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Kansas Dem Sen Candidate: ‘Congress has to speak up to executive power’

2026-08-04T23:14:01.725Z / CNN Politics

By Jake Tapper, CNN

Published 7:14 PM EDT, Tue August 4, 2026

Kansas Dem Sen Candidate: ‘Congress has to speak up to executive power’

The Lead

Adam Hamilton joins The Lead.
1:14 • Source: CNN

特朗普与卡塔尔埃米尔通话 霍尔木兹海峡协议前景露曙光

2026年8月5日 07:04 / 联合早报

6月16日，在法国举行的七国集团峰会期间，卡塔尔埃米尔塔米姆与美国总统特朗普举行双边会晤。 （路透社）

一项聚焦于霍尔木兹海峡的临时协议前景似乎正取得积极进展，卡塔尔方面表示已拟定一份提案，美伊两国官员也对达成协议重新开放这条至关重要的水道显得乐观。

彭博社报道，卡塔尔政府说，卡塔尔埃米尔（国家元首）塔米姆星期二（8月4日）与美国总统特朗普就美伊局势通电话，双方讨论了为缓和紧张局势所作的努力。

根据卡塔尔埃米尔宫发表的声明，塔米姆与特朗普讨论了地区局势最新发展，特别是旨在缓解美伊紧张关系、弥合双方分歧，从而为通过外交途径解决危机创造有利条件的各项努力。

白宫官员随后证实了这一通话，但未透露更多细节。

几名要求不具名的知情外交官说，伊朗正考虑做出让步，允许欧洲国家清除霍尔木兹海峡的水雷，这或许会成为潜在协议的一部分。这与伊朗公开表明的立场相左，但在最近几周的私下会晤中，德黑兰方面的态度已有所缓和。伊朗外交部尚未对此置评。

美国国务卿鲁比奥和财政部长贝森特分别对围绕霍尔木兹海峡展开的谈判作出乐观评估。

在谈到旨在促使更多船只通过霍尔木兹海峡所做的努力时，鲁比奥对记者说：“我认为眼下最紧迫的协议，也是大家关注的焦点，就是海峡问题。”

贝森特也暗示，针对这一咽喉要道的协议可能很快就会达成。

贝森特周二在美国消费者新闻与商业频道（CNBC）节目中说：“我们正与伊朗方面进行谈判，我认为今天或明天就可能达成协议，开放海峡。”当被问及是否会对海上通行船只收费时，他说：“我认为这将保障自由通行。”

然而，卡塔尔和美国官员都谨慎表示，目前尚未达成任何协议。美国官员曾多次声称，开放霍尔木兹海峡的协议已接近达成，但始终毫无进展。

另一方面，伊朗官方通讯社IRIB引述伊朗外交部发言人巴加埃说，伊朗与阿曼的会谈进展顺利，目前的讨论重点是“为船只划定安全的进出航线”。

受市场乐观情绪影响，油价逆转早盘涨幅，美国国债价格上涨，市场预期调解方能够促成协议，避免美军新一轮空袭。布伦特原油价格连续第二天暴跌，原因是市场普遍预期至关重要的霍尔木兹海峡石油运输可能恢复正常。油价最终收跌超过5%，三周多以来首次跌破每桶80美元（约102新元）。

Virginia voters cement swing-district rematch after Dems’ redistricting fail

August 4, 2026 7:39pm EDT / Fox News

The retired Naval commander defeated three challengers after Democrats’ redistricting plan failed in court

By Charles Creitz, Fox News

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting map

Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares explains why the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Democratic redistricting map was a “win for the rule of law.” Miyares notes the proposed map would have drastically shifted power for Democrats, citing the court’s emphasis on adhering to the state’s constitutional amendment process.

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Democrats renominated former Rep. Elaine Luria, who represented Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Eastern Shore, on Tuesday to face incumbent Republican Rep. Jennifer Kiggans of Virginia Beach in a rematch.

Luria, a retired Naval commander who served two terms from 2019 to 2023, entered the race with the highest name recognition and the backing of much of Virginia’s Democratic establishment.

The district, stretching from New Church on Maryland’s border, through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to Virginia Beach, was one of several in Virginia that Democrats sought to redraw to shift the state’s congressional delegation from a 6-5 Democratic edge to a 10-1 advantage.

SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS IN FIGHT OVER STATE COURT ELECTION MAP RULING

Former Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., speaks during a House Jan. 6 committee hearing on Dec. 19, 2022. Luria, a former Navy commander, is seeking a return to Congress in Virginia’s competitive 2nd District.(Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

That plan failed when conservatives successfully challenged the redistricting in court, handing Gov. Abigail Spanberger and her party a major and financially costly loss.

Luria had challenged Dr. Sudipta “Nila” Devanath, businessman Bill Fleming and former USAID staffer Patrick Mosolf for the nomination.

‘JUMPING SHIP’: HOUSE DEM FINDS EXIT STRATEGY AFTER SCOTUS RULING SHIFTS ADVANTAGE TO GOP

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – NOVEMBER 08: Republican Congressional nominee, state Sen. Jen Kiggans celebrates her win during an election night event on November 8, 2022 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Kiggans defeated incumbent Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) in Virginias 2nd Congressional District.(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Mosolf’s former agency was gutted by the Trump administration, which he blames for inflation and other pressures on Virginians.

Devanath, a Norfolk physician, is running in the progressive lane in the primary, pledging to support “universal healthcare,” paid family leave, abortion protections and other left-wing priorities.

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Fleming, a scientist who has worked for the NIH and IBM, is running on a more moderate platform, emphasizing his role as a grandfather and his vision for the next generation.

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A welcome sign is posted in the grass near the intersection of Lee Highway, Key Bridge, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Rosslyn, Arlington County, Virginia.(Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

His campaign website lists strengthening local economies, expanding health care access and pursuing “practical” immigration reform as his core issues.

The district is expected to host one of Virginia’s closest congressional races this fall and remains a top target for both national parties as they battle for House control.