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WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won't apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.
As the high school football season winds down, only the three traditional Thanksgiving morning games remain, along with Bonner & Prendergast, Delaware County’s last team standing in the state playoffs competing in the PIAA Class 4A semifinals Friday. It’s been a memorable season from a local standpoint, one that has seen numerous records shattered, both at the team level and across the county. Before the helmets and shoulder pads are put away until next summer, it’s time for a Daily Times tradition: By The Numbers, our annual look at the season in statistical form. 1 >> Number of wins each for Chichester and Sun Valley. The bright side? Before the turkey’s out of the oven Thursday, one of these teams will have doubled its win total. 3 >> Philadelphia Catholic League teams that have advanced to the PIAA semifinals: Bonner & Prendergast (4A), Roman Catholic (5A) and St. Joseph’s Prep (6A). While the Catholic League has had multiple state champions in the same season – most recently in 2019 with Prep and Archbishop Wood – it has never crowned three champions in one year. 3 >> Single-season team records for Garnet Valley senior Caden Koehler: receptions (52), receiving yards (1,038) and touchdown catches (12). 5 >> Delco teams that achieved double-digit win seasons: Springfield (12), Bonner & Prendergast (10), Chester (10), Haverford High (10) and Strath Haven (10). 5 >> Wins for Upper Darby under second-year coach Darrell Dulany, who has made significant progress with the program. Taking over a team in disarray and coming off a two-win season in his first year, Dulany has the Royals positioned to finish with a winning record ... if they can pull off an upset against Haverford Thursday. 6-5 >> Height of Haverford School senior lineman Josh Williams, a 305-pound Stanford commit who helped the Fords to a 7-3 record and second-place finish in the Inter-Ac League. Williams was the anchor of an offensive line unit that averaged roughly 150 yards on the ground per game. 17 >> Career interceptions for Chester’s Daron Harris. The previous school record of 15, held by Jimmy King, had stood for 40 years. 27 >> Passing touchdowns this season for Chester’s Jalen Harris, who has 86 career touchdown passes, the most by any quarterback in Delco history. His 5,882 career passing yards rank fifth all-time, and he needs 1,707 yards next year to break the county record held by Desman Johnson Jr. of Penn Wood since 2019. 28 >> Touchdowns for Daron Harris this fall, which is another Chester record that belongs to him. Daron had 14 receiving TDs and seven on special teams returns (four kicks and three punts). Daron also had two interception returns for scores. He is, undoubtedly, one of the best all-around players in Delco over the last decade. 30.5 >> Average margin of victory by West Chester Rustin over its two Delco opponents, Chester and Springfield, in the District 1 Class 5A tournament. Can’t say enough about the Golden Knights. They are the real deal, absolutely manhandling two of the top programs in the area, and two wins away from a state title. 66 >> Receptions for Episcopal Academy junior Jackson Orcutt. That is good for seventh all-time in the county. He set single-season program records in catches, receiving yards (1,132) and TD receptions (15). 87 >> Sum total of career passing (43) and rushing (44) touchdowns for Sam Dixon, the awesome playmaker for Delaware County Christian School’s eight-man squad. Dixon spearheaded the Knights’ run to the Keystone State Football League championship game, ending his career with 2,843 passing yards and 2,572 rushing yards. With Dixon showing the way, DC posted an 8-1 record, its best season since 2015, back when the Knights competed in the Bicentennial Athletic Conference as one of the smallest PIAA programs in the area. 92 >> Yards Haverford High junior Liam Taylor needs Thursday to become Delco’s greatest single-season rushing champion. Taylor, who has 2,741 yards, is closing in on the record of 2,832 yards set by Interboro alum and current Yale star Abu Kamara during his Daily Times Player of the Year campaign in 2022. 875 >> Rushing yards for Interboro sophomore Momodu Rogers, who has had an outstanding season despite the Bucs’ 2-8 record, and he accomplished this while missing two games due to injury. Rogers averaged over 100 yards against five tough opponents – Strath Haven, West Chester Rustiin, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Wissahickon and Upper Moreland – all of which finished with at least five wins. He has a chance to hit the 1,000-yard mark Thursday at Ridley. 2,019 >> Passing yards for Garnet Valley quarterback Luke O’Donoghue, setting a single-season team record. Known for their run-heavy offense, the Jaguars’ success through the air this season was fun to watch and O’Donoghue was the driving force behind it. 2,396 >> Passing yards for Bonner & Prendergast sophomore Noel Campbell, who broke the 23-year-old single-season school record during the Friars’ 35-7 victory over Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals. Campbell’s total ranks seventh in Delco history, 501 yards from breaking the record. 2,785 >> Rushing yards in the career of Strath Haven’s Shane Green, the fourth-highest mark in program history. This year Green amassed 1,447 yards, sixth most by a Haven player, en route to helping the Panthers claim a share of the Central League title. Contact Matt Smith at msmith@delcotimes.comGlobal stocks mostly fall ahead of ECB, US inflation data
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Reactions to Florida Representative Susan Valdes' switch over to Republican Party varyThe Jeep Gladiator has earned its reputation as a top off-roader. It's available in up to seven trim levels that cater to a wide range of adventurers, from the base Sport to the top-tier Mojave X. Within this lineup, the Rubicon and the Mojave trims are often top picks of many off-road enthusiasts, thanks to their incredibly powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine and terrain-specific performance. The Gladiator Mojave, Jeep's first model to earn the "Desert Rated" badge, is best suited for high-speed desert driving. It tackles sandy dunes and excels in wide-open landscapes. The Rubicon, on the other hand, bears the "Trail Rated" badge and is widely known for its rock-climbing abilities. While the Mojave and the Rubicon share the Gladiator's off-road DNA — such as the 3.6-liter V6 engine, 8.4-inch touchscreen display, and 4,500-pound tow rating — these two off-roaders are slightly different based on where you want to drive them. Desert dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park or rocky trails of the Rocky Mountain National Park? To cater to distinct purposes, it's important to know how the Mojave and Rubicon differ in suspension, drivetrain, and specialized features. Optimized for high-speed desert driving, the Gladiator Mojave features a part-time Command-Trac NV241 transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range ratio. This gives it higher wheel speed capabilities of up to 50 mph in the low range, making it ideal for dune running. The Rubicon was designed for climbing rocks and tackling obstacle courses, it comes with a Rock-Trac NV241OR transfer case with a 4:1 low-range ratio, which is part of what makes Jeeps great climbers . In dune-running situations, the Gladiator Mojave can achieve substantially higher low-range wheel speeds than the Rubicon. To top that off, the Mojave maintains an admirable crawl ratio of 52.6:1 with the 850RE eight-speed automatic and a 57.3:1 ratio with the AL6 six-speed manual. However, the Rubicon achieves a 77.2:1 crawl ratio with the auto and a best-in-class 84.2:1 ratio with the manual. It also features Fox 2.0-inch monotube shocks and Rubicon-specific tuned springs. Known for its best suspension system, the Mojave takes things slightly higher, featuring Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with hydraulic jounce bumpers and a 1-inch front suspension lift for additional ground clearance when handling sandy terrain. The Mojave model has a bolstered frame, rear-locking differential, and strengthened upper control arms, while the Rubicon has an electronic front sway bar disconnect that increases suspension articulation by 30% and a front-locking differential that comes in handy when driving through rocky off-road trails. Along with a shared 285-horsepower V6, also offered on the 2024 Jeep Wrangler , the Mojave and Rubicon share the rugged utilitarian design of the Gladiator family. However, they have unique accents and functional features that set them apart. As mentioned, the Mojave features an exclusive Desert Rated Badge with orange accents that spread throughout the design, down to the tow hooks. The Rubicon's Trail Rated Badge is hard to miss, especially with the signature red accents, with matching tow hooks. While both SUVs ride on 33-inch all-terrain tires, the Rubicon throws in steel off-road rock rails and a steel rear bumper for added protection during rock crawling. Similarly, the Mojave offers standard Steel "Sand Slider" rocker guards for dune-running protection. As a desert ride, it also comes with a Max Tow cooling package to improve the V6's performance in hot climates. The Gladiator Mojave and Rubicon feature similar interior technology, such as the 8.4-inch touchscreen display with Uconnect® 4C NAV, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto . The main interior differences between the two lie in the colors and accents. While the Rubicon has red stitching across the cabin, the Mojave interior sports matching orange stitching. As a sportier version of the two, the Gladiator Mojave has sport bolsters in the seats and racing grips on the steering wheel.
By CHRIS MEGERIAN and COLLEEN LONG WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he’s tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he’s daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump’s attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country’s top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump’s other picks might exceed his party’s willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he’s denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump’s election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn’t pursued federal background checks for Trump’s personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they’ve been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Related Articles Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth’s lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn’t the only hurdle for Kennedy; he’s spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there’s grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale.” “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke,” Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.At least 6 dead in political protests in Pakistan’s capital