Judge dismisses charges against Karen Read supporter who scattered rubber ducks and fake $100 billsWashington: Billionaire Elon Musk, tapped by US President-elect Donald Trump to slash federal government spending, lashed out at modern fighter jets on Monday, saying that drones were the future of air combat. "Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed," said the head of SpaceX, Tesla and X, in a post on his social media platform. Musk singled out the F-35 -- a next-generation fighter jet manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin that entered service in 2015 -- for criticism. "Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35," he posted, alongside a video of hundreds of drones hovering in formation in the sky. The F-35, the world's most advanced fighter, is stealth capable and can also be used to gather intelligence. Germany, Poland, Finland and Romania have all recently signed deals for the aircraft. Its development, however, has suffered from issues, notably in the design of its computer programs, and its very high operating costs are regularly criticized by its detractors. "The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people," said Musk on Monday, calling it "an expensive (and) complex jack of all trades, master of none." For Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, "what makes the F-35... expensive is the software and the electronics, not the pilot per se." This is significant "because a reusable drone would need to get all that flashy electronics of an F-35," he said on X. He also pointed out that the existence of the F-35 had forced US rivals to develop their own aircraft and advanced radar to match it. "By simply existing, the F-35 and the B-1 force Russia and China into strategic choices they would not have to make otherwise (i.e. budget allocations)," Gilli said, referring to B-1 heavy bomber aircraft. "Even if Musk were right (and he is not), deleting the programs would relax these constraints on them."
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds stockholders that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired The Toronto-Dominion Bank TD securities between February 29, 2024 and October 9, 2024. TD is an international bank, operating through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) Misled Investors Regarding Compliance with its Anti-Money Laundering Program According to the complaint, defendants failed to disclose the issues surrounding TD's anti-money laundering ("AML") program employed to comply with the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA"), the ability for defendants to "fix" those issues, and the punitive and remedial compliance measures likely to be imposed upon TD through the resolution of these investigation. Specifically, defendants concealed or otherwise minimized the significance of the failures of the Company's AML program and made no indication that the imposition of an asset cap or other punitive or compliance measures would be imposed that would undermine TD's continued growth for the foreseeable future. On October 10, 2024, TD unveiled the resolutions reached from a previously disclosed investigations related to its Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering compliance programs, which included, in addition to the punitive payment of $3.09 billion, both an asset cap, preventing TD's U.S. subsidiaries from exceeding a collective $434 billion, a reflection of the Company's assets as of September 30, 2024, and further subjects TD to more stringent approval processes for its product, service, and market rollouts. Further, the Department of Justice, in their own corresponding release, highlighted the significance of TD's failures as "the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures, and the first US bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering." On this news, the price of TD's common stock fell from a closing market price of $63.51 per share on October 9, 2024, to $59.44 per share on October 10, 2024, and further to $57.01 on October 11, 2024, a decline of more than 10% in the span of just two days. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by December 23, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against The Toronto-Dominion Bank settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact: Aaron Dumas, Jr. Robbins LLP 5060 Shoreham Pl., Ste. 300 San Diego, CA 92122 adumas@robbinsllp.com (800) 350-6003 www.robbinsllp.com https://www.facebook.com/RobbinsLLP/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/robbins-llp/ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Percentages: FG .569, FT .607. 3-Point Goals: 9-18, .500 (Thomas 2-2, Watkins 2-3, Deng 2-4, Holt 1-1, Swinton 1-1, Davis 1-2, Bol Bowen 0-1, Crawford 0-1, Rozakeas 0-1, Jackson 0-2). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 4 (Bol Bowen, Deng, Ewin, Holt). Turnovers: 11 (Jones 2, Bol Bowen, Davis, Deng, Ewin, Maluk, Mbatch, Swinton, Thomas, Watkins). Steals: 7 (Bol Bowen 2, Crawford, Davis, Jackson, Maluk, Swinton). Technical Fouls: Bol Bowen, 14:54 second. Percentages: FG .310, FT .690. 3-Point Goals: 3-24, .125 (Curry 1-2, Rivera 1-4, Guerengomba 1-6, Ndjigue 0-1, Watson 0-1, Worthy 0-2, Diggins 0-8). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 1 (Rivera). Turnovers: 16 (Rivera 3, Worthy 3, Curry 2, Hankins-Sanford 2, Abdelgowad, Diggins, Guerengomba, Muhammad, Ndjigue, Watson). Steals: 7 (Ndjigue 3, Rivera 2, Abdelgowad, Diggins). Technical Fouls: None. .Pentair PLC stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors despite daily gains
BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts judge dismissed criminal charges Monday against a backer of Karen Read who admitted placing dozens of yellow rubber ducks and fake $100 bills around town in support of Read. Richard Schiffer Jr. had argued in Stoughton District Court that he had a First Amendment right to support the defense theory that Read — accused of ramming into her boyfriend John O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving the Boston police officer to die in a snowstorm — has been framed in the polarizing murder case. Schiffer's attorney Timothy Bradl said Monday that the judge made the right call by quickly tossing the felony witness intimidation and criminal harassment charges against Schiffer. The ruling comes as another judge decided Monday to push back Read's retrial to April after a mistrial was declared in July when jurors couldn’t reach an agreement. Read was facing second-degree murder charges and two other charges. Her attorneys have argued that other law enforcement officers were responsible for O’Keefe’s death. Regarding Schiffer's charges, Bradl said, “There wasn't a leg to stand on.” “Hats off to the judge. He didn’t make everyone wait and ruled from the bench. Everything was completely protected by the First Amendment. This was political speech," Bradl said. The Norfolk District Attorney’s office declined to comment. Schiffer has said he got the ducks idea after thinking about a defense lawyer’s closing argument that Read was framed . Alan Jackson told jurors that “if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.” Schiffer's actions did not rise to the level of witness intimidation and criminal harassment "nor does his speech, or in this case his written word on fake currency and use of rubber toys, which are afforded the protections of the First Amendment," Judge Brian Walsh wrote. “It is the view of this Court that the defendant's conduct and speech, though a rather sophomoric expression of his opinion, is nonetheless protected speech,” he wrote. Walsh concluded the two-page ruling with quotes from Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, believed to have coined the “walks like a duck” phrase, and Robert McCloskey, author of the children's book “Make Way For Ducklings.” The defense alleged that O’Keefe was actually killed inside the home of his fellow Boston officer Brian Albert and then dragged outside. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a “convenient outsider” who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. Schiffer has been among the dozens of Read supporters who accuse state and local law enforcement of a widespread cover-up. Their demonstrations have led to confrontations, especially in the town of Canton where the murder happened, between those who support Read and others who believe she is guilty. Schiffer, who owns Canton Fence and has said that he knows practically everyone in town through his contracting work, was accused of placing some of the ducks outside a pizza shop run by Brian Albert’s brother, Canton Selectman Chris Albert. Other ducks appeared in O’Keefe’s neighborhood.MEOVV ‘s Gawon is a true visual: From her model-like physique to her charismatic aura, there’s no denying her beauty! However, her visuals have sparked a discussion among netizens about the type of beauty that is in demand for K-Pop idols. [Video could not be displayed] Netizens agree that her cool personality and “alpha girl” vibes would make her a great model, but may not fit many peoples’ ideas about K-Pop idol visuals. [Video could not be displayed] GAWON TIKTOK UPDATE ❤️🔥 #GAWON #가원 #MEOVV #미야오 pic.twitter.com/EPQo6GjFUW — gawon (@dailygawon) December 1, 2024 Netizens argue that idols typically have a “cute” appeal rather than a strong aura. “Idols definitely need to have a ‘cute’ look to be in demand.” “Even for someone who doesn’t know much about idols, it’s obvious she wouldn’t be in demand as one. Why was she chosen? Is she the main vocalist?” “Nine Muses were ‘model idols,’ but they weren’t popular.” “She kind of has an actor Soo Hyun vibe. A tall, Korean-American look? Maybe a Hollywood type.” “Huh? I actually liked her the most. Her long arms and legs made her dancing look so fluid and cool.” However, there are other idols in the industry who have embraced this type of image rather than a cute image, including MAMAMOO ‘s Hwasa . MEOVV BLACKPINK’s Rosé Finally Reunites With Ella Gross At “2024 MAMAs” Following Her MEOVV Debut 08-Liner Female Idol Goes Viral For Her Gorgeous Visuals Netizens Roast MEOVV’s Social Media Aesthetic MEOVV’s Live Vocals Become A Hot Topic After Initially Disappointing Performances See more MEOVV
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the sprawling government agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace — celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz — recently held broad investments in health care, tech, and food companies that would pose significant conflicts of interest. Oz’s holdings, some shared with family, included a stake in UnitedHealth Group worth as much as $600,000, as well as shares of pharmaceutical firms and tech companies with business in the health care sector, such as Amazon. Collectively, Oz’s investments total tens of millions of dollars, according to financial disclosures he filed during his failed 2022 run for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. Trump said Tuesday he would nominate Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency’s scope is huge: CMS oversees coverage for more than 160 million Americans, nearly half the population. accounts for approximately $1 trillion in annual spending, with over 67 million enrollees. UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health care companies in the nation and arguably the most important business partner of CMS, through which it is the leading provider of commercial health plans available to Medicare beneficiaries. UnitedHealth also offers managed-care plans under Medicaid, the joint state-federal program for low-income people, and sells plans on government-run marketplaces set up via the Affordable Care Act. Oz also had smaller stakes in CVS Health, which now includes the insurer Aetna, and in the insurer Cigna. It’s not clear if Oz, a heart surgeon by training, still holds investments in health care companies, or if he would divest his shares or otherwise seek to mitigate conflicts of interest should he be confirmed by the Senate. Reached by phone on Wednesday, he said he was in a Zoom meeting and declined to comment. An assistant did not reply to an email message with detailed questions. “It’s obvious that over the years he’s cultivated an interest in the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry,” said Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog group. “That raises a question of whether he can be trusted to act on behalf of the American people.” (The publisher of KFF Health News, David Rousseau, is on the .) Oz used his TikTok page on multiple occasions in November to praise Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including their efforts to take on the “illness-industrial complex,” and he slammed “so-called experts like the big medical societies” for dishing out what he called bad nutritional advice. Oz’s positions on health policy have been chameleonic; in 2010, he urging Californians to sign up for insurance under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, telling viewers they had a “historic opportunity.” Oz’s 2022 financial disclosures show that the television star invested a substantial part of his wealth in health care and food firms. Were he confirmed to run CMS, his job would involve interacting with giants of the industry that have contributed to his wealth. Given the breadth of his investments, it would be difficult for Oz to recuse himself from matters affecting his assets, if he still holds them. “He could spend his time in a rocking chair” if that happened, Lurie said. In the past, nominees for government positions with similar potential conflicts of interest have chosen to sell the assets or otherwise divest themselves. For instance, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland agreed to divest their holdings in relevant, publicly traded companies when they joined the Biden administration. Trump, however, declined in his first term to relinquish control of his own companies and other assets while in office, and he isn’t expected to do so in his second term. He has not publicly indicated concern about his subordinates’ financial holdings. CMS’ main job is to administer Medicare. About half of new enrollees now choose Medicare Advantage, in which commercial insurers provide their health coverage, instead of the traditional, government-run program, from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Proponents of Medicare Advantage say the private plans offer more compelling services than the government and better manage the costs of care. Critics note that Medicare Advantage plans have a long history of than the traditional program. UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna are all substantial players in the Medicare Advantage market. It’s not always a good relationship with the government. The Department of Justice filed a 2017 complaint against UnitedHealth used false information to inflate charges to the government. The case is ongoing. Oz is an enthusiastic proponent of Medicare Advantage. In 2020, he proposed offering Medicare Advantage to all; during his Senate run, he offered a more general pledge to expand those plans. After Trump announced Oz’s nomination for CMS, Jeffrey Singer, a senior fellow at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, “uncertain about Dr. Oz’s familiarity with health care financing and economics.” Singer said Oz’s Medicare Advantage proposal could require large new taxes — perhaps a 20% payroll tax — to implement. Oz has gotten a mixed reception from elsewhere in Washington. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, the Democrat who defeated Oz in 2022, signaled he’d potentially support his appointment to CMS. “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude,” on the social platform X. Oz’s investments in companies doing business with the federal government don’t end with big insurers. He and his family also hold hospital stocks, according to his 2022 disclosure, as well as a stake in Amazon worth as much as nearly $2.4 million. (Candidates for federal office are required to disclose a broad range of values for their holdings, not a specific figure.) Amazon operates an internet pharmacy, and the company announced in June that its is available to Medicare enrollees. It also , One Medical, that accepts Medicare and “select” Medicare Advantage plans. Oz was also directly invested in several large pharmaceutical companies and, through investments in venture capital funds, indirectly invested in other biotech and vaccine firms. Big Pharma has been a frequent target of criticism and sometimes conspiracy theories from Trump and his allies. Kennedy, whom Trump has said he’ll nominate to be Health and Human Services secretary, is a longtime anti-vaccine activist. During the Biden administration, Congress gave Medicare authority to negotiate with drug companies over their prices. CMS initially selected 10 drugs. Those drugs collectively accounted for between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, under Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit. At least four of those 10 medications are manufactured by companies in which Oz held stock, worth as much as about $50,000. Oz may gain or lose financially from other Trump administration proposals. For example, as of 2022, Oz held investments worth as much as $6 million in fertility treatment providers. To counter fears that politicians who oppose abortion would ban in vitro fertilization, Trump making in vitro fertilization treatment free. It’s unclear whether the government would pay for the services. In his TikTok videos from earlier in November, Oz echoed attacks on the food industry by Kennedy and other figures in his “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They blame processed foods and underregulation of the industry for the poor health of many Americans, concerns shared by many Democrats and more mainstream experts. But in 2022, Oz owned stakes worth as much as $80,000 in Domino’s Pizza, Pepsi, and US Foods, as well as more substantial investments in other parts of the food chain, including cattle; Oz reported investments worth as much as $5.5 million in a farm and livestock, as well as a stake in a dairy-free milk startup. He was also indirectly invested in the restaurant chain Epic Burger. One of his largest investments was in the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa, which sells fast food and all manner of ultra-processed snacks. Oz and his wife reported a stake in the company, beloved by many Pennsylvanians, worth as much as $30 million. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Formula 1 had reached an “agreement in principal” for Cadillac to join the grid as an 11th team for the 2026 season. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free General Motors confirmed it working with TWG Global to bring the team to the grid in 2026. The US car-making giant also announced plans to produce their own F1 power unit “by the end of the decade”, making Cadillac a true full works operation. GM president Mark Reuss said: “It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM [original equipment manufacturing] world and is working with impressive partners,” said Ben Sulayem. “I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application to bring a GM/Cadillac branded team onto the grid for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship. “All parties, including the FIA, will continue to work together to ensure the process progresses smoothly.” The FIA approved an application to enter the world championship from Andretti Global in October last year. However Formula One Management must also give its approval for any new team to join the grid, and it rejected the application earlier this year. Rumours during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend claimed FOM was preparing to announce a reversal of its position which would allow the new entrant to arrive in 2026. F1 confirmed today it has reached an “agreement in principle” with Cadillac. Andretti obtained the backing of Cadillac, which originally announced it planned to enter as as the team’s power unit supplier in 2028. Last month Michael Andretti has stepped down in charge of the Silverstone-based project, prompting speculation Cadillac would rebrand the entire entry. The FIA selected Andretti from four potential entrants which reached the second phase of its application process. The unsuccessful rival bids included Formula Equal , which was backed by former BAR F1 team principal Craig Pollock; Formula 2 team Hitech GP, whose team principal Oliver Oakes has since taken charge at Alpine; and an Asian entrant under the name LKY SUNZ . F1’s statement announcing the impending arrival of Cadillac made no mention of the Andretti name. “General Motors and Cadillac’s commitment to this project is an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “We look forward to seeing the progress and growth of this application, certain of the full collaboration and support of all the parties involved.” This article will be updated Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free
Is ‘Glicked’ the new ‘Barbenheimer’? ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ collide in theatersIMD Workshop Underscores Need for Accurate Weather Forecasts
City planners are going to rethink their proposal to build a new transit maintenance facility near the existing public works yard after neighbors in the adjacent residential area urged the Tracy Planning Commission to reject the proposal. The city had considered turning a long-vacant 9.88-acres on four parcels along Beechnut Avenue into a transit maintenance yard, which would be across Tracy Boulevard from the Boyd Service Center, the city’s main public works yard. City of Tracy Project Planner Craig Hoffman reported that the property would have to be rezoned from medium-density residential to light industrial before the city could apply for Federal Transit Administration money to pay for construction of the facility. Following a discussion before the Planning Commission on Dec. 4, with planners unanimously rejecting the rezoning, and consideration of the neighborhood protest, city planners will seek out an alternative site. The project would include three buildings, including a maintenance building and administration building along Tracy Boulevard, and a public works building on Forest Hill Drive. It would also include parking lots for the city’s TRACER buses, with photovoltaic panels as a canopy, and fueling areas, including a hydrogen fueling station and electric vehicle charging stations. The facility would be used only by city staff and contractors. The property is owned by Chevron. It previously had been the site of an oil pipeline/pump station that transported crude oil through the area until the mid-1960s. All equipment associated with that operation has since been removed, and as of 2018 the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board had issued “no further action required” letters to Chevron, affirming that the land is suitable for commercial/industrial uses, with some parts of the property also suitable for residential development. City Transit Manager Ed Lovell told the planning commission that the city doesn’t have a facility sufficent for maintenance of large vehicles, adding that as the city transitions its TRACER buses to zero-emission operation, like hydrogen and electric, it will need to add infrastructure for that technology. Hoffman added that the main question for the commission – which was asked to approve a general plan amendment, rezoning and approval of the environmental review -- was whether the development of a transit maintenance facility was compatible with neighboring uses. Neighbors told the commission that the presence of the Boyd Service Center nearby gives them an idea of what they could expect, with bright lights from the center and the noise of vehicles coming and going already a constant presence. Some also expressed concern about the flammable nature of hydrogen gas. Neighbors also noted that because the land is presently zoned for residential development, they expected it would eventually have more homes, possibly even a park. When commissioners had a chance to comment, Commissioner Gurtej Atwal asked planning staff if the city owns other sites suitable for industrial development around town, and if had they been considered. Forrest Ebbs, Director of Community and Economic Development, replied that there are, including a 52-acre city-owned property on Chrisman Road just north of 11th Street. He added that in order for homes to be built on the Beechnut Avenue site the city would require a more intensive review of the condition of the soil there, and possibly further cleanup. Commissioner Nasir Boakye-Boateng made a motion to approve the project, with Atwal seconding the motion, but all five commissioners voted against the motion. City Planning Manager Scott Claar noted that while city staff could have taken the project to the Tracy City Council, given the planning commission’s rejection and neighborhood opposition planning staff will seek out another site that’s more likely to meet with approval. • Contact Bob Brownne at brownne@tracypress.com , or call 209-830-4227.By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg demonstrates leadership with federally supported retrofitNo. 1 South Carolina women stunned by fifth-ranked UCLA 77-62, ending Gamecocks' 43-game win streak
Joe Burrow back to full practice, good to go for Sunday