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Trump White House adviser acted ‘above the law’ in defying Jan. 6 Committee, prosecutors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House adviser to President Donald Trump acted as if he were “above the law” when he refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors argued at his trial Wednesday. Peter Navarro was charged with two counts of contempt of Congress, but his lawyer argued he didn’t ignore the House Jan. 6 Committee. Instead, Navarro told members to contact Trump about what might be protected by executive privilege, the attorney said. A judge has found the privilege argument alone isn’t a defense against the charges because Navarro couldn’t show evidence that the former Republican president had invoked it.Both sides rested after committee staffers testified about sending the subpoena and Navarro’s response. Closing arguments and jury deliberations are expected Thursday. Navarro, a senior trade adviser, was subpoenaed in February 2022 by the House panel investigating how and why a mob of Trum...

Another twist in the Alex Murdaugh double murder case. Did the clerk tamper with the jury?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Alex Murdaugh’s double murder case has been full of twists and turns: How did a dog crack the case? Where are the bloody clothes and weapons? And where did all the money Murdaugh is accused of stealing go?But one of the biggest surprises came on Tuesday, six months after Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son.Murdaugh’s lawyers filed court papers saying he deserves a new trial because elected Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill allegedly tampered with the jury that found him guilty earlier this year. Prosecutors have 10 days to respond.Here’s a look at what the next chapter of Murdaugh’s case could look like.WHAT IS THE CLERK ACCUSED OF DOING?Murdaugh’s defense attorneys sum it up in a paragraph of the 65-page appeal.“She asked jurors about their opinions about Mr. Murdaugh’s guilt or innocence. She instructed them not to believe evidence presented in Mr. Murdaugh’s defense, including his own testimony. She lied...

Prosecutors seeking new indictment for Hunter Biden before end of September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors plan to ask a grand jury to indict President Joe Biden’s son Hunter by the end of the month, according to court documents filed Wednesday.The exact charges the president’s son would face were not immediately clear, but appeared related to a gun possession charge in which he was accused of having a firearm while being a drug user. He has also been under investigation by federal prosecutors for his business dealings.U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss, newly named a special counsel in the case, referred to a seeking an indictment before Sept. 29 in a status report required by Judge Maryellen Noreika.Defense attorneys said Hunter Biden has kept to the terms of an agreement sparing him from prosecution on a felony gun charge if he stays clean and out of trouble. That agreement, which also contains an immunity clause against federal prosecutions for some other potential crimes, was part of a plea deal on misdemeanor tax offenses that fell apart du...

A look at the uranium-based ammo the US is sending to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday announced it was sending depleted uranium anti-tank rounds to Ukraine, following Britain’s lead in sending the controversial munitions to help Kyiv push through Russian lines in its grueling counteroffensive. The 120 mm rounds will be used to arm the 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks the U.S. plans to deliver to Ukraine in the fall. Such armor-piercing rounds were developed by the U.S. during the Cold War to destroy Soviet tanks, including the same T-72 tanks that Ukraine now faces in its counteroffensive. Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process needed to create nuclear weapons. The rounds retain some radioactive properties, but they can’t generate a nuclear reaction like a nuclear weapon would, RAND nuclear expert and policy researcher Edward Geist said. When Britain announced in March it was sending Ukraine the depleted uranium rounds, Russia falsely claimed they have nuclear components and warned that their use would open...

Markets down Wednesday on inflation concerns as Bank of Canada holds rates steady

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index lost almost 200 points Wednesday amid a broad-based decline,while U.S. markets also posted losses, as investors fretted over stubbornly high inflation. The theme Wednesday was the persistent risk of sticky inflation on both sides of the border, said Ryan Crowther, vice-president and portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Canada.The Bank of Canada left its key interest rate unchanged as expected, but highlighted that it’s still open to hiking rates if the economic data warrants such a move.“I think they’re clearly keeping the door open for a further increase if it’s needed,” said Crowther. Gas prices helped inflation tick higher in July, and will likely keep the Consumer Price Index elevated in the short term, the central bank said.But higher rates are rippling through the economy, Crowther said, and the bank’s press release highlighted a “sharp slowdown” in the Canadian economy in the second quarter. “Higher rates (are) clearly having an in...

MLB places Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías on administrative leave after arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Julio Urías was placed on administrative leave indefinitely by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, three days after the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher was arrested on suspicion of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant.The leave was imposed under baseball’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy adopted by MLB and the players’ union in 2015 and can be the first step toward a suspension. Players are paid but cannot play while on leave.Urías was arrested late Sunday night by Department of Public Safety officers in Exposition Park, south of downtown Los Angeles. The park is home to BMO Stadium, where Lionel Messi was playing in a Major League Soccer game with numerous celebrities in attendance.DPS offered no details Wednesday on the circumstances of the arrest, but asked for any witnesses with information regarding the incident to contact them.Urías posted $50,000 bail and was released early Monday. He is due in court on Sept. 27.Urías, a 27-y...

TIFF is almost here. That means a ton of road closures in Toronto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

Road closures begin early Thursday morning to accommodate the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).TIFF runs from September 7 to 17.As of 2 a.m. on Thursday until September 11, vehicles will be banned on the following routes.King Street West, from University Avenue to Spadina AvenueDuncan Street, from King Street West to Pearl StreetJohn Street, from Wellington Street West to Pearl StreetWindmer Street, from King Street West to Adelaide Street WestEmily Street, from Wellington Street West to King Street WestAdditionally, Simcoe Street, from Wellington Street West to Pearl Street, will be closed to vehicles and bicycles from 5 a.m. on Thursday until 5 a.m. on September 12.Front Street West from Bay Street to University Avenue will be closed to westbound traffic from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. on September 10.The City of Toronto says it will adjust traffic signals in the area and, if needed, bring in traffic agents.Notable changes on TTC routesThe TTC is making some adjustments to some of...

The Bulls are hitting the road for training camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

CHICAGO — While there are a lot of things that are the same about the Bulls this season, there is one thing that's going to be different.That's where the team is going to hold a portion of their training camp, as the team's staff has elected to hit the road to get ready for the 2023-2024 campaign.In what is a departure from their recent routine the Bulls, the team will hold a portion of their preseason workouts in a different city, electing to to go Nashville for five days of practice.Following their Advocate Center media day on Monday, October 2, the Bulls will travel to Belmont University where they'll hold practices starting on October 3. See the Bulls 2023-2024 regular season schedule They're scheduled to workout every day through Saturday, October 7 at the Crockett Center on campus before heading to Milwaukee for their preseason opener the next day. Head coach Billy Donovan will then hold the remainder of the practices during the preseason in Chicago. After the contest again...

CPD: 4 migrants arrested for threatening, assaulting 12th district officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department alleges that several officers were threatened, assaulted, and battered by migrants living at the 12th district emergency shelter.According to the CPD, as many as four individuals face criminal charges surrounding the violent incidents. ‘Absolutely unacceptable:’ FOP President Catanzara slams migrant conditions at police stations One incident involving two individuals, identified as migrants by police sources, occurred just after 6:15 a.m. Wednesday.The first allegedly took property from the district and attempted to flee. While a second allegedly battered a responding officer who sustained minor injuries transported to an area hospital in good condition.Two other violent or threatening incidents reported around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday morning involved 12th district migrants.20-year-old Juan Marquez Vienna was arrested, charged, and now faces one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to property and one misdemeanor count of assault, according to ...

Trump says he would 'love to debate' Meghan Markle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

(The Hill) – Former President Trump says he would "love to debate" Meghan, the duchess of Sussex.The hypothetical head-to-head between the actress formerly known as Meghan Markle and the 45th president was floated by radio host Hugh Hewitt on his eponymous show during an interview with Trump on Wednesday.Asked if he would sit down with Meghan and her husband Prince Harry “for the ratings” in what Hewitt speculated would be a widely viewed event, Trump replied, “If you want to set it up, let’s set it up.”“Let’s go do something,” Trump said. “I’d love to debate her. I would love it.”“I disagree so much with what they’re doing,” he added, pointing to what he described as the “great disrespect” the pair showed the late Queen Elizabeth II.“I said that I don’t think they are very appropriate what they’re saying, what they’re doing, and I didn’t like the way she dealt with the queen,” Trump told Hewitt.Harry and Meghan, who wed in 2018, stepped down as full-time working members of the...