Trump Violated Gag Order Seven More Times, Prosecutors Say
Mr. Trump violated gag order with social media posts during criminal trial, prosecutors seeking contempt charges, judge to decide after hearing other allegations. [ more ]
Federal Prosecutors Make Their Case for Gag Order on Trump
Prosecutors are requesting the approval of a gag order on former President Donald Trump in his federal election interference case, citing the dangers of his aggressive public statements.
Prosecutors argue that Trump's history of targeting adversaries on social media has led to harassment, threats, and intimidation against those involved in the election interference case.
The court is set to hear oral arguments about the gag order next week. [ more ]
Trump's hush money trial strategy: Deny, delay and denigrate
Donald Trump's defense strategy for his first criminal trial is confrontational and focused on denying involvement in key conversations about hush money payments. [ more ]
Judge Chutkan Declines To Sanction Special Counsel For Aggravated Filing Stuff
Donald Trump's lawyers filed a motion demanding that Special Counsel Jack Smith and his deputies be held in contempt of court.
Judge Tanya Chutkan did not impose contempt sanctions but acknowledged that some burden is placed on defense counsel by the special counsel's motions. [ more ]
Special counsel seeks court order to ensure Trump and his defense don't share materials turned over in discovery
Special counsel Jack Smith's team is asking the judge in the classified documents case against Donald Trump to bar the former president and his defense team from publicly disclosing some of the materials shared in the criminal case as part of the discovery process.In a new filing on Friday, Smith's team said that among the unclassified materials that prosecutors are set to turn over to the defense is information pertaining to ongoing investigations, the disclosure of which could compromise those investigations and identify uncharged individuals.
Legal Experts Skeptical of Conflict of Interest Claim in Trump Georgia Case
Legal experts doubt that the defense's questioning and witness testimonies demonstrated a clear conflict of interest in the Georgia case against Donald J. Trump and his allies.
The day's proceedings did not help the prosecutors overall and could be damaging in terms of public perception. [ more ]
In Trump Case, Thorny Conflict of Interest Question Looms
The effort to disqualify the prosecutors in Trump's election interference case is based on the argument of a conflict of interest due to a romantic relationship between the district attorney and the special prosecutor.
The defense lawyers argue that the relationship and financial benefits from the special prosecutor create a personal interest in the case, which goes against the district attorney's obligation to seek justice. [ more ]
Ashleigh Merchant, a Defense Lawyer, Is Arguing for the Prosecutors' Disqualification
Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer representing a co-defendant in the Georgia election interference case, has accused the Fulton County district attorney of having a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor hired for the case.
Merchant argues that this relationship creates a conflict of interest and should disqualify the prosecutors from handling the case. [ more ]
Prosecutors put men on death row. This California D.A. wants to take them off
California has practically ended capital punishment despite it being in law, but some inmates remain on death row.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is preparing to request a change in penalties for 14 inmates due to concerns over racial bias. [ more ]
Prosecutors are 'quitting in droves,' and it's bad news for defendants, law prof says
Prosecutors are quitting in large numbers, leading to vacancies in prosecution offices across the country.
The lack of applications for prosecutor positions is due to factors such as the George Floyd effect, low pay, heavy caseloads, and time-consuming discovery obligations. [ more ]
Trump Wins News Cycle On Road To Losing Civil Fraud Trial
Trump's lawyer demanded that he be allowed to present part of his own closing argument in his civil fraud trial, but was denied.
Trump launched into a broadside against the court and the prosecutors, claiming he was being persecuted and that this was election interference. [ more ]
Arizona governor signs order barring local prosecutors from handling abortion prosecutions
Arizona governor signs order barring local prosecutors from handling abortion prosecutions
Democrat Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs delivers her State of the State address at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 9. Hobbs announced Friday that she has signed an executive order that transfers power to file abortion-related charges from local prosecutors to Democrat Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
D.A. accuses Rebecca Grossman of 'illegal conduct' from jail, her legal team of jury tampering
Prosecutors are requesting to cut off Rebecca Grossman's access to jailhouse phones due to alleged encouragement of illegal conduct and tampering with jurors.
Grossman allegedly urged her daughter to release sealed body-camera video and influence witnesses post-conviction in a double murder case. [ more ]
Some South L.A. residents call for embattled City Councilman Curren Price to step down
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
With the fate of yet another Los Angeles City councilmember up in the air following criminal corruption charges, a group of his constituents said they are clear on the path forward: Curren Price should resign.In front of the gates of Price's district office in South Los Angeles, a small crowd of about a dozen rallied Saturday to demand the council veteran step down.
State Bar moves to strip law licenses of Girardi son-in-law, former employee
(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
The Tom Girardi scandal appeared poised to claim two more legal careers Friday as the State Bar of California initiated disbarment proceedings against the disgraced trial attorney 's son-in-law and another lawyer at his once-vaunted firm.Agency prosecutors are seeking to strip the licenses of former Girardi Keese litigators David Lira, who is married to Girardi's daughter, and Keith Griffin, one of last lawyers to flee the crumbling firm two years ago.
Taco Bell ordered to pay up after refusing to cash out gift cards
(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)
Taco Bell, one of the nation's largest fast food chains, agreed to pay $85,500 in fines Wednesday after the company was accused of refusing to cash out customers' gift cards when they were valued at less than $10.California law allows customers to get a refund when the balance of gift cards is less than $10, but prosecutors in Ventura, Los Angeles and Sonoma counties accused Taco Bell in a lawsuit of refusing to cash out the cards.
How Jonathan Swan Covered [Up] John Durham's Corruption - emptywheel
Something funny happened yesterday.Full-time Trump-whisperer Maggie Haberman, Trump-whisperer Jonathan Swan, and DOJ reporter Charlie Savage wrote a story responding to Trump's promise to appoint prosecutors to investigate Joe Biden and his family just like Biden's own DOJ has done (which they note).
Aileen Cannon just issued an order for attorneys for Trump or Walt Nauta to contact DOJ's Litigation Security Group to start the process of applying for security clearances by tomorrow.This is just one order.It likely came as a result of DOJ contacting the Litigation Security Group, probably asking that a Court Security Officer be appointed, for this case, and alerting them that lawyers will need clearances.
Trump berates New York judge during civil fraud trial's closing arguments
Donald Trump turned closing arguments in his civil fraud trial into an election campaign attack, claiming that prosecutors are trying to stop his political comeback.
Prosecutors are demanding $370 million from Trump over fraud allegations and seek to bar him from conducting business in New York. [ more ]
California governor to send prosecutors to Oakland to help crack down on rising crime
Governor Gavin Newsom plans to send prosecutors to Oakland to crack down on rising crime.
Additional deputy attorneys general and attorneys from the California National Guard will assist Alameda County in prosecuting suspects for serious and complex crimes. [ more ]
Lawyers for ex-gang leader held in Tupac Shakur killing say he should be released from jail
Attorneys for a former gang leader charged with the killing of Tupac Shakur argue that their client should be released from jail and placed under house arrest.
The attorneys claim that prosecutors have misinterpreted evidence and that their client does not pose a threat to the public.
In a court filing, the attorneys question why it took 15 years for the police and prosecutors to arrest their client if he is truly dangerous. [ more ]
Secret Details in Menendez Court Filings Are Made Public
A court document reveals that a senior federal law enforcement official in New Jersey has no memory of discussing cases with Senator Robert Menendez, contradicting the accusations against him.
Lawyers for Menendez argue that prosecutors manufactured a narrative based on speculation, cherry-picking, and innuendo to charge the senator and his wife with bribery. [ more ]
Afternoon Briefing: CPS students walk out across the city
Prosecutors are seeking up to five years in prison for Tim Mapes, the former chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Madigan, for lying to a federal grand jury.
Mapes' attorneys are requesting probation and community service for him, arguing that he did not personally benefit from his alleged misstatements and maintains his innocence. [ more ]
Judge: Dad of accused Highland Park shooter should have trial this fall
A judge said Friday that he wants to hold the trial for the father of accused Highland Park gunman in October or November."I'm somewhat bound and determined that we're gonna go to trial in October or early November," Lake County Judge George Strickland said at a hearing for Robert Crimo Jr. "I'm gonna move you along, fair warning."
Editorial: Too much is at stake in Trump case for Judge Cannon to preside. She should recuse.
The last time U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled on a case involving Donald Trump and his alleged hoarding of classified documents, the dressing-down from appellate judges above her was stern and blunt.Last year, Cannon, a Trump appointee, approved Trump's demand for an outside arbiter to examine documents that federal agents had seized from the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
A verdict has been reached in the trial of a politically connected Chicago businessman accused of corrupting the political process by attempting to pay off two sitting state legislators to pass a bill beneficial to his sweepstakes gaming company.James T. Weiss, 44, who is the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios, is charged in a superseding indictment filed in October 2020 with bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to the FBI.
Colombo underboss 'The Claw' catches break after attorneys ague he's too old and sick for long jail sentence
86-year-old underboss of the Colombo Crime Family, Benjamin 'The Claw' Castellazzo, received a 15-month prison sentence instead of the more than two years sought by prosecutors, due to his age and health issues.
Castellazzo's attorneys argued that a longer prison sentence would jeopardize his wellbeing, as his health issues require constant medical care and medication.
Prosecutors argued that Castellazzo's advanced age and health issues have not prevented him from continuing his alleged criminal activities. [ more ]
Menendez Lashed Out on the Senate Floor. Now, He's Fighting Back in Court.
Lawyers for Senator Menendez have asked for the dismissal of his indictment, claiming that prosecutors are criminalizing legislative activity and violating constitutional protections for members of Congress.
The defense team's legal brief provides insight into their strategy for the upcoming trial and addresses the accusations made by prosecutors, calling them false and distorted. [ more ]
Jack McNally, N.Y.P.D. Detective Turned Defense Sleuth, Dies at 89
Jack McNally, who as a police detective in 1964 made the first arrest in the most audacious jewel theft in New York City history, and who then became a private investigator for famous defense lawyers like F. Lee Bailey and worked on behalf of clients like O.J. Simpson, died on May 28.He was 89.His death was announced on the website of the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home on Staten Island, which handled the funeral arrangements.
German police arrest truck driver accused in crash that killed Italian cyclist Rebellin
Police in Germany have arrested a truck driver accused in the crash in Italy last year that killed professional cyclist Davide Rebellin, Italian prosecutors said Saturday.Wolfgang Rieke is accused of road homicide and leaving the scene of a crash.Vicenza prosecutor Lino Giorgio Bruno said he was arrested Thursday in Muenster on a European arrest warrant.
An associate of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is sentenced to prison for extremism
Lilia Chanysheva gestures as she stands in a cage during a hearing in a courtroom of the Kirovskiy District Court in Ufa, Russia, June 14."I am a politician, a woman who is being persecuted by men who are her opponents," she said in her final statement to the court earlier this month.AP Photo MOSCOW A Russian court sentenced a leading associate of opposition leader Alexei Navalny to 7 1/2 years in prison on extremism-related charges on Wednesday the latest in a series of lengthy prison terms issued to political opponents of the Kremlin amid the war in Ukraine.
Heather Mack to plead guilty in Chicago murder conspiracy case
Heather Mack has already spent nearly every day behind bars since her mother's bludgeoned body was found stuffed in a suitcase in the Bali resort where they'd been vacationing nine years ago, sparking international headlines and leading police on a trail that began in suburban Chicago.On Friday, Mack will undoubtedly be facing many years more in prison, as she is set to plead guilty in the federal murder conspiracy case against her in Chicago rather than go to trial in August.
What Has Happened in Minneapolis Since George Floyd Was Murdered
A cellphone video taken by a teenage bystander showing a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressing his knee on the neck of a 46-year-old Black man, George Floyd, on a Minneapolis street corner on May 25, 2020, led to the largest social-justice protest movement in the United States in a half-century.
An American is arrested over the death of a U.S. tourist at a German castle
People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023.Frank Rumpenhorst/AP BERLIN An American man has been arrested over the death of one U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.
Brazil 4-1 Guinea (Jun 17, 2023) Game Analysis - ESPN
Brazil outclassed Guinea 4-1 in a friendly on Saturday as Joelinton, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Vinicius Jr scored for the five-times world champions who wore an all-black kit in the first half to promote an anti-racism campaign.It was the first of two friendlies for Brazil against African nations in support of Real Madrid forward Vinicius, who was racially abused in a LaLiga match at Valencia in May, the 10th time incidents involving him have been reported by LaLiga to prosecutors this season.
Protesters demand an end to the criminalisation of abortion
Thousands of protesters descended on London and chanted Free Carla Foster as they demanded an end to the criminalisation of abortion.Foster, 44, was given a 28-month extended sentence earlier this week after she admitted illegally procuring her own abortion when she was between 32 and 34 weeks.The protesters marched from the Royal Courts of Justice to Whitehall on Saturday, holding signs saying abortion is healthcare and policing our bodies is the real crime.
Guantanamo Case Nearing a Decision on the Lasting Effects of Torture
By the time the prisoner accused of plotting the U.S.S.Cole bombing boasted about his role in the attack during interrogations at Guantanamo Bay, his memories and account were unreliable because of years of isolation and torture by the C.I.A., a former military interrogator testified Friday.Prosecutors say the statements that Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi prisoner, gave during interrogations in 2007 are crucial evidence against him.
Judge acquits Chicago cop accused of wrestling teen to ground in Park Ridge
A Chicago Police sergeant charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of aggravated battery for grabbing a Park Ridge 14-year-old and pinning him down on the sidewalk last summer was found not guilty on all three counts Friday by Judge Paul Pavlus in Cook County Circuit Court.Asked if he had a comment on the ruling as he left the courtroom, Sgt.
Mexican resort where 2 Californians died ignored gas leak problems, employee says
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A current and former employee at a luxury hotel in Mexico where two Americans were found dead this week said managers of the resort ignored repeated signs of a possible gas leak and disabled carbon monoxide detectors to stop their alarms from disturbing guests.
Binance to quit the Netherlands and faces investigation in France
Binance has suffered setbacks in two European markets after it announced plans to quit the Netherlands and came under investigation by French prosecutors.The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange said it was leaving the Dutch market after it failed to obtain a licence from the country's central bank.
Pentagon leak suspect Jack Teixeira is indicted by a federal grand jury
This artist depiction shows Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, right, appearing in U.S. District Court in Boston, April 14, 2023.Teixeira has been indicted on federal felony charges.The Justice Department says Teixeira faces six counts in the indictment of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.
Evidence in Trump Documents Case Hints at Ongoing Investigations,' Filing Says
The federal prosecutors overseeing the classified documents case against former President Donald J. Trump said in court papers on Friday that the evidence they are poised to give the defense as part of the normal process of discovery contained information about ongoing investigations that could identify uncharged individuals.
Man accused of starting Oak fire that destroyed 127 homes near Yosemite is arrested
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A 71-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of arson for igniting the massive Oak fire in Mariposa County last year that destroyed 127 residences and dozens of outbuildings, prosecutors and investigators announced.Arson investigators took Edward Frederick Wackerman, a longtime Mariposa resident, into custody without incident after a nearly yearlong extensive probe into the blaze that also consumed 19,244 acres of vegetation, officials said.
DOJ expected to announce findings of review of Minneapolis Police Department after George Floyd murder
Top Justice Department officials on Friday are expected to announce the findings of a two-year long investigation of the policing practices of the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, people briefed on the matter said.The pattern or practice review followed the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in Floyd's murder.
Finance Executive Accused of Drugging and Raping Teen in Midtown Hotel
A 54-year-old finance executive targeted a 14-year-old girl through her Instagram account, passed her off as his daughter on trips around the country, gave her drugs and raped her in New York City hotel rooms, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney's office said Thursday.Prosecutors said that the executive, Michael Olson, had texted multiple other girls and that its investigation would continue.
Judge Orders Lawyers in Trump Case to Start Getting Security Clearances
The judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump's indictment on charges of illegally retaining national defense information issued an order on Thursday instructing any lawyer who wants to take part in the case to start the process of obtaining a security clearance to handle classified material by early next week.
Wearing a T-shirt that read Free Bird, an Arizona man who spent nearly 28 years on death row was freed on Thursday after a judge overturned his conviction on charges that he had sexually assaulted and murdered his girlfriend's 4-year-old daughter.Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by the man, Barry Jones, for relief.
Thieves' Loot: A Warhol, a Pollock and 9 of Berra's World Series Rings
An alarm at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y., blared at about 2 a.m. on a fall morning in 2015, prompting its director to drive to the building and learn that culprits had broken in and stolen six championship belts from the '40s and '50s.Who could do this to a hall of fame museum?
Jurors Begin Deliberations in First Phase of Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial
After three weeks of wrenching testimony, the prosecution and the defense delivered closing arguments on Thursday in the first phase of the federal trial of the man charged with carrying out the deadliest antisemitic attack in the country's history.Robert Bowers, 50, the man charged in the October 2018 killing of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, faces the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.
In Trump Prosecution, Special Counsel Seeks to Avoid Distracting Fights
Jonathan Goodman, the magistrate judge assigned to handle Donald J. Trump's arraignment, did something of a double take during the proceeding on Tuesday, when the Justice Department offered the former president a bond deal that was not merely lenient but imposed virtually no restrictions on him at all.
Japan changed its definition of rape and raised the age of consent to 16, from 13, on Friday, bringing the country's sex crimes laws closer in line with those in the United States and Europe.The new law, passed unanimously by the Upper House of Parliament, defines rape as nonconsensual sexual intercourse and removes a previous requirement that the crime include physical force.
The 50 percent threshold in a poll can sometimes be distracting.When more than half of people give a certain answer, it often becomes the dominant message to emerge from the poll question.It is the answer that appears to have won.Yet the most important information may nonetheless be lurking elsewhere.
Man attacks 2 women near Neuschwanstein castle in Germany, killing one
A tourist died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, authorities said Thursday.The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon.Prosecutors in nearby Kempten said the two women, age 21 and 22, had met the 30-year-old suspect who also had gone to the castle as a tourist for the first time shortly beforehand.
Court upholds convictions against Babcock's killers, Millard loses all 3 appeals | CBC News
Ontario's top court has upheld convictions against Dellen Millard and Mark Smich for killing a 23-year-old woman, marking back-to-back appeals dismissed this week against the multiple murderers.The decision in the murder case of Laura Babcock comes a day after the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld convictions against the two men for the 2013 murder of 32-year-old Tim Bosma.
Jury deliberations begin in James T. Weiss bribery trial
A federal jury on Thursday began deliberating the fate of a politically connected Chicago businessman accused of corrupting the political process by attempting to pay off two sitting state legislators to pass a bill beneficial to his sweepstakes gaming company.James T. Weiss, 44, who is the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios, is charged in a superseding indictment filed in October 2020 with bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to the FBI.