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Representative Henry Cuellar, Democrat of Texas, and his wife were charged with participating in a yearslong $600,000 bribery scheme involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank, according to a federal indictment unsealed in Houston on Friday. Mr. Cuellar, 68, and his wife Imelda, 67, are accused of bribery and money laundering in connection with their efforts on behalf of a bank based in Mexico City and an energy company owned by Azerbaijan, according to the 54-page complaint. Mr. Cuellar is also accused of acting as an agent of a foreign entity while serving as a U.S. government official. Payments made from 2014 to 2021 were laundered through “sham consulting contracts,” front companies and shell companies owned by Mrs. Cuellar, who performed “little to no legitimate work” under the contracts, lawyers with the Justice Department’s criminal division wrote.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, Mr, Cuellar, Imelda, . Cuellar Organizations: Justice Locations: Texas, Azerbaijan, Mexican, Houston, Mexico City, U.S

☆ Dave & Buster's plan to allow betting on arcade games draws scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Dave & Buster's location in the Gateway Center shopping complex in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Arcade chain Dave and Buster's plan to allow customer betting isn't winning over everyone. Software company Lucra Sports announced on Tuesday that it was working with the entertainment chain to allow customers to place wagers on their arcade games through the Dave & Buster's app. Illinois State Rep. Daniel Didech, a Democrat from Buffalo Grove, filed a bill on Thursday that's designed to prohibit family amusement establishments from facilitating wagering on amusement games. "None of those protections are in place at Dave & Buster's locations.

Persons: Dave, Daniel Didech, Didech Organizations: Gateway Center, . Software, Lucra Sports, Illinois State, Democrat, Illinois, Illinois House Gaming, CNBC, Dave Locations: Brooklyn, New York, Buffalo Grove, Illinois

☆ Hope Hicks Reluctantly Confronts the Man She ‘Totally Understands’ in Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Michael M. Grynbaum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Friday, the audience in the courtroom tensed when prosecutors announced the next person to testify on their behalf: Hope Hicks. She was the meticulously dressed, unfailingly polite aide, a former fashion model who developed a nuanced awareness of, and bottomless patience for, her mercurial charge. “She totally understands him,” Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s one-time campaign manager, said in 2016. Unlike other aides, she never had a falling out with Mr. Trump (or wrote a tell-all memoir), serving as the White House communications director and returning for the final year of his administration. But their closeness took a hit when it emerged in 2022 that she had voiced anger in a text message to a colleague over the fallout on Mr. Trump’s staff from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Persons: Donald J, Hope Hicks, Hicks’s, barker, ” Paul Manafort, Trump’s, Trump Organizations: Trump, White House, Capitol

Hope Hicks, a former longtime advisor to Donald Trump, took the witness stand in his hush-money trial Friday. Hicks was Trump's 2016 campaign press secretary and later his White House communications director. AdvertisementHope Hicks, an ex-White House aide and longtime advisor to Donald Trump, broke down in tears while on the witness stand on Friday in the former president's hush-money criminal trial. After answering "yes," Hicks grabbed a tissue and turned to her left while sitting on the witness stand. Hicks took the witness stand again after about a five-minute break, looking flushed but calmer.

Persons: Hope Hicks, Donald Trump, Hicks, —, Emil Bove, Ms, Juan Merchan, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Hicks —, Cohen, Daniels Organizations: White House, Service, White, Trump Organization, Trump, Prosecutors, Attorney's, Daniels, National Enquirer Locations: Trump, Manhattan

☆ Hear the tapes: DA's theory of Trump as the hush-money mastermind takes a hit in newly-released defense recordings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Defense tapes played in court Thursday have been posted to SoundCloud by Law360. They are recordings of 2018 phone calls between the two lawyers who struck the 2016 hush-money deal. They suggest an alternate reality to the DA's — where Trump is more victim than mastermind. Davidson's surmise — that Cohen was likely taping him at the time — makes a pair of newly-released defense tapes all the more compelling and perplexing. AdvertisementAnd while Colangelo told jurors that prosecutors will prove Trump "orchestrated" an election-influencing hush-money conspiracy, the charges do not require proof of who played whom.

Persons: Trump, —, Stormy Daniels, Keith Davidson, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Davidson, Donald Trump's fixer, Davidson's, Daniels, Trump’s, Keith Davidson hesitantly, ODuQQ4i1tg, Frank G, hesitatingly, Attorney Alvin Bragg, 89n0yKPqe3, Anthony Kotzev, Gina Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo Organizations: Law360, Service, Manhattan, Attorney, Trump, Prosecutors

☆ Trump trial resumes after infamous Cohen phone call tape is played for jury
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024 in New York City. The lawyer, Keith Davidson, negotiated six-figure hush money deals for porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 presidential election. On the night Trump won that election, Davidson texted the Enquirer's then-editor in chief, "What have we done?" But he added that he and the top editor, Dylan Howard, understood at the time that "our activities may have in some way assisted the presidential campaign of Donald Trump." Jurors heard a recording of Trump saying asking Cohen, "So what do we got to pay for this — 150?"

Persons: Donald Trump, Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Trump, Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Davidson, Trump's, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Dylan Howard, Douglas Daus, Cohen, McDougal Organizations: U.S, Manhattan Criminal, Prosecutors, New, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney, National Enquirer, American Media Locations: New York City, New York

☆ Election Updates: Biden and Trump tussle over the economy with the new jobs report.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Shane Goldmacher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The latest employment report on Friday showing a lower-than-forecast 175,000 new jobs across the country in April became immediate fodder for the 2024 presidential race. The monthly jobs report is likely to be quickly forgotten in the campaign. But the biggest impact could be on the Federal Reserve, which sets interest rates in the country. Mr. Trump himself appears to be closely tracking the rate decisions of the Federal Reserve. At the Manhattan courthouse on Thursday, Mr. Trump said, “Interest rates are obviously not going to be reduced prior to the election because inflation is roaring back.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Biden, Biden’s, Jerome H, Powell, ” Organizations: White, Federal Reserve, The New York Times, Siena College, Mr Locations: New York, Manhattan

☆ Opinion: I’ve seen too many young journalists pay the ultimate price. It’s them I’ll be thinking of today
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Opinion Jon Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

When a journalist is killed, it is not just their voice that is silenced: Press freedom is your freedom. Over 30 years ago, the United Nations recognized May 3 as World Press Freedom Day: a global reminder of the importance of press freedom and an opportunity to assess its health around the world. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found that at least 100 journalists and media workers have been killed since we last marked World Press Freedom Day. Tragically, on this World Press Freedom Day, our work is needed more than ever. On this World Press Freedom Day, the fallen who gave their lives for the truth should serve as a reminder as to why press freedom is really your freedom.

Persons: Jon Williams, Rory Peck, Read, Jon Williams Rory Peck, Bayeux, ”, Simon Cumbers, Simon, Al, Louise, Cumbers, Johnny Green, Thomas Jefferson, ” Jefferson, it’s, Dom Phillips, Phillips, Aldeia Maloca, Bruno Pereira, Joao Laet, don’t Organizations: Rory Peck Trust, BBC News, ABC News, CNN, 1st Cavalry, Canadian, BBC, The Washington Post, United Nations, Protect Journalists, Getty, United, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Bayeux, Northern France, France, Omaha Beach, Europe, Nazi Germany, Normandy, Paris, “, Saudi Arabia, Al Qaeda, Saudi, Riyadh, Ireland, London, South, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Madrid, Irish, Kabul, Afghanistan, Gaza, Ukraine, Honduras, Sudan, Philippines, Brazil, Aldeia, Roraima, AFP, Britain, United States, Israel, Egypt

☆ Donald Trump says he wasn't sleeping in court but simply closing his 'beautiful blue eyes' so that he could 'listen intensely'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump says he didn't fall asleep during his hush-money trial. Trump has been regularly appearing in a Manhattan court since the trial kicked off on April 15. "I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!" Related storiesHaberman, however, did acknowledge that there were times where Trump really was just closing his eyes. Besides the case in Manhattan, Trump has been charged in three other criminal cases, including a state criminal case in Georgia over accusations that he attempted to overturn the 2020 election results.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Hunt, Maggie Haberman, CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Haberman, It's, UBLPJEbA0y, Jon Stewart Organizations: Service, New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, Business, Times, Independent, Trump Locations: Manhattan, Georgia, Lago

☆ Trump Trial Live Updates: Witness Who Extracted Secret Recordings to Return to the Stand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Matthew Haag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Before the tape was revealed, Mr. Trump’s legal team aggressively attacked the credibility of Mr. Davidson during a cross-examination that quickly turned hostile. Frequently, Mr. Davidson would respond, “I don’t recall.”Mr. Bove confronted Mr. Davidson about his “fuzzy” memory and Mr. Davidson responded forcefully that his answers had been truthful. Image The jury heard a recording, made by Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s longtime fixer, during the 2016 campaign. That included one in which Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen discussed a hush-money deal for Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who was trying to sell a story about an affair with Mr. Trump. The potential witness list has several major names, including Ms. Daniels, Mr. Cohen and Hope Hicks, who is Mr. Trump’s former spokeswoman.

Persons: Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels, Donald J, Juan M, Trump, Merchan, Daniels, Davidson, Michael D, Cohen, Mr, Emil Bove, ” Mr, Bove, ”, “, Trump’s, Maansi Srivastava, Davidson’s, Justice Merchan, Alvin L, Bragg, Todd Blanche, ” Trump, Blanche, Doug Mills, Biden’s, Biden, We’re, Douglas Daus, Karen McDougal, Hope Hicks Organizations: Trump, Prosecutors, Trump White House, New York, ., White, Playboy Locations: Manhattan, Michigan, Wisconsin

Major corporations often don't want to seem like they're taking one side politically, so they either sponsor both conventions, or neither. Conventions could see new sponsorsThe Democratic and Republican conventions this summer are the first fully in-person conventions since the 2016 election. Democratic convention organizers in April said if corporations had any reluctance to back the RNC, it hasn't hampered Chicago's efforts to lure donors. Microsoft in 2012 contributed over $1.5 million in a mix of in-kind and cash contributions to the Republican convention. JPMorgan donated $200,000 to the 2012 Republican convention and didn't write a check for the 2016 event.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jon Cherry, Rashad Robinson, Robinson, —, Fiserv, Greg Goldner, Trump, Donald Trump's, aren't, they'll, Joe Biden, Trent Morse, Morse, they've, Alison Prange, Reince Priebus, Priebus, it's, Steve Kornacki's, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Yeoh, Natalie Edelstein, Michael Sacks, Sacks, J.B . Pritzker, Barack Obama, Alex Hornbrook, There's, Taylor Swift, she's, Mitt Romney, Obama, didn't, General Motors Organizations: Christian Media, The Gaylord, Center, Getty, Republican National Convention, Republican, NBC News, Trump, Fiserv Inc, Democratic, Fiserv, RNC, Resolute Consulting, GOP, Corporations, Fortune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Democrats, White House, Milwaukee, NBC, Wall, Republican National Committee, Wall Street, Biden, TV, Kentucky Derby, Street Journal, Northwestern Mutual, Wisconsin Fortune, Democratic National Convention, WEC Energy Group, Manpower Group, Conventions, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, DNC, Convention, Chicago, Longtime Democratic, Illinois Gov, White, Correspondents, Commission, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Bank of America, FEC, Meta, Skype, CNBC, JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, JPMorgan, General Motors, General, Motors, Comcast, Press, Trade Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, America, Chicago, NBCUniversal, Philadelphia

“I’m really nervous,” Hope Hicks, the onetime Trump spokeswoman, messaging maestro and all-around adviser, acknowledged to the prosecutor questioning her, declaring what was already obvious to the riveted courtroom. Ms. Hicks’s unease came to a head hours later as Mr. Trump’s lawyer began to cross-examine her — and she began to cry. Mr. Trump locked his eyes on her. The question that initially unnerved Ms. Hicks was about her time at the Trump Organization, the family’s business, where she had fond memories of working. Ms. Hicks left the stand, and the trial paused so that she could compose herself.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, “, ” Hope Hicks, Trump’s, Ms, Hicks Organizations: Trump, Trump Organization

☆ DJT stock: Truth Social keeps shrinking despite the Trump trial and looming election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Yet new data shows its main product — the conservative-friendly social network Truth Social — remains a very tiny player in its industry, and it’s getting even smaller. “If your entire social circle is on a social media platform, that’s a strong pull to sign up. ‘Meme stock’ argumentTrump recently received another 36 million shares of Trump Media as part of a bonus known as earnout shares. Including those new shares, Trump owns 114.75 million shares of Trump Media — a stake valued at $5.6 billion. Of course, Kennedy notes that there is a counter argument that Trump Media is not a typical social media stock, and so traditional metrics like growth and revenue don’t really matter.

Persons: Donald Trump, it’s, ”, Matthew Kennedy, Kennedy, “, Trump, Shannon Devine, ” Devine, Similarweb, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, Gettr, Tom Liu, Musk, ” Kennedy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump Media & Technology, Trump Media, CNN, Trump, Truth, Renaissance, Social, ” Trump Media, Elon Musk Locations: New York, Similarweb

☆ Fact check: Trump makes false courthouse claims about bail and his campaign schedule
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Daniel Dale | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Continuing his barrage of courthouse deception, former President Donald Trump made more false claims about his Manhattan trial on Friday. Trump’s false claim about bailTrump said: “New York City is a violent city; it’s become violent with the cashless bail. I’m the only one who has to put up bail.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. Trump’s assertion that New York City is “a violent city” is subjective. Trump’s false claim about his scheduleTrump continued Friday to complain that the New York trial is preventing him from being on the campaign trail.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, it’s, “ Organizations: Washington CNN —, “, New, Republican, Miami, Prix, Georgia, North Carolina, Trump Locations: York, Fulton County , Georgia, New York, Washington , DC, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Manhattan, Bedminster , New Jersey

☆ Sex tapes! Celebrity rehab! Trump hush-money trial goes full National Enquirer as Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen are name-dropped.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Charlie Sheen, Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, and Tila Tequila were all name-dropped. Charlie Sheen, Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, Floyd Mayweather, Tila Tequila — all were name-dropped in morning testimony. Bove asked. Bove asked Davidson. Advertisement"I've represented several clients who had claims against Charlie Sheen," Davidson answered carefully.

Persons: Stormy Daniels, Keith Davidson, Charlie Sheen, Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, Tila Tequila, —, Donald Trump's, Floyd Mayweather, Playboy Bunny Karen McDougal, Trump, Daniels, Davidson, Emil Bove, Donald Trump, Jane Rosenberg Bove, You've, Bove, you've, shakedowns, McDougal, lister, Hogan, Kevin Winter, Terry Bollea, Bollea, Hulk, Amy Sussman, Lindsay Lohan Davidson, Betty Ford, Lohan, Valerie Macon, Kevin Blatt, Tequila, Charlie Sheen's, Jamie McCarthy, Sheen, Blatt, I've, Anderson, Heidi Gutman, Capri Anderson, I'm Organizations: Service, National Enquirer, Manhattan, Enquirer, Trump, Reuters, Hulk Hogan's, TMZ, Morning America Locations: Manhattan, Sheen, Capri, Anderson

A defense lawyer for Donald J. Trump portrayed the lawyer who negotiated payoffs for two women who claimed to have had sex with Mr. Trump as a shady serial extortionist who has made a living trafficking in celebrity gossip and hush-money deals. During the cross-examination, the defense lawyer Emil Bove quickly sought to discredit Mr. Davidson. He accused him of toeing the line between seeking monetary settlements for his clients and extortion. And he warned Mr. Davidson that he was “not here to play lawyer games,” adding that he was seeking truthful answers. Mr. Davidson responded: “You are getting truthful answers, sir” — sarcastically stressing the last word.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Keith Davidson, Emil Bove, Mr, Davidson, ” —

Keith Davidson, the former lawyer for the porn star Stormy Daniels, faced a blistering cross-examination on Thursday in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, with defense lawyers casting him as a serial extortionist of celebrities. The judge, Juan M. Merchan, also heard arguments about additional violations of a gag order by Mr. Trump, just days after he held the former president in contempt and fined him $9,000 for nine other violations. Justice Merchan has threatened jail time if the violations continue, but did not rule on four new allegations on Thursday. Mr. Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying 34 business records, including checks and invoices, to hide a $130,000 payment to Ms. Daniels, who says she and Mr. Trump had a tryst in 2006 while he was married. Mr. Trump, the first American president to face prosecution, has denied the felony charges, and having had sex with Ms. Daniels.

Persons: Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels, Donald J, Juan M, Trump, Merchan, Daniels Organizations: Trump

☆ Scott Sheffield, former Pioneer CEO, accused of trying to conspire with OPEC to inflate prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Scott Sheffield, the founder and longtime CEO of a leading American oil producer, attempted to collude with OPEC and its allies to inflate prices, federal regulators alleged on Thursday. Regulators say Sheffield, then the CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, used WhatsApp conversations, in-person meetings and public statements to try to “align oil production” in the Permian Basin in Texas with that of OPEC and OPEC+, the wider group that includes Russia. Unlike with OPEC nations, US oil production is supposed to be decided by the free market, not by coordination among the major players. The FTC said that while Sheffield was discussing efforts to coordinate output with other Texas producers, the Pioneer CEO said: “If Texas leads the way, maybe we can get OPEC to cut production. Exxon said that in response to the FTC’s concerns, it will not add Sheffield to its board.

Persons: New York CNN — Scott Sheffield, “ Mr, —, Kyle Mach, Sheffield “, Douglas Farrar, Sheffield, ”, Exxon Organizations: New, New York CNN, OPEC, Federal Trade Commission, Sheffield, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi Arabia, Regulators, Pioneer Natural Resources, FTC, ExxonMobil, Competition, CNN, Railroad Commission, Texas, Exxon Locations: New York, American, Saudi, Sheffield, Texas, OPEC, Russia, FTC’s, Saudi Arabia

☆ John Eastman: Judge denies ex-Trump election lawyer’s request to reactivate law license while he fights disbarment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Mary Kay Mallonee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An attorney discipline judge in California has rejected a request from ex-Trump election lawyer John Eastman to reactivate his law license following her recent recommendation that he be disbarred, which rendered him unable to practice law for now. Judge Yvette Roland, who oversees state bar proceedings in California, recommended in March that Eastman be disbarred for his election subversion efforts. The California Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to endorse or reject Roland’s recommendation to disbar Eastman. “Eastman failed to uphold his primary duty of honesty and breached his ethical obligations by presenting falsehoods to bolster his legal arguments,” Roland wrote in her opinion recommending he be disbarred. He also was indicted last month in Arizona in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election, along with more than a dozen other Trump allies, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani.

Persons: John Eastman, Eastman, Mike Pence, Yvette Roland, disbar Eastman, Roland’s, Donald Trump’s, “ Eastman, ” Roland, ”, Roland, disbarment, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “, Michael R, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani Organizations: CNN, California Supreme, ” Politico, Trump Locations: California, Georgia, Arizona

☆ Trump trial resumes with testimony from lawyer behind Stormy Daniels hush money payment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The New York criminal trial of Donald Trump is set to resume Thursday with more testimony from the attorney who helped broker a hush money payment from the former president's lawyer to porn star Stormy Daniels. The $130,000 payment to Daniels in particular is at the center of the historic criminal trial in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump unlawfully tried to influence that election by buying and suppressing damaging information about him, Bragg alleges. Merchan on Thursday morning was expected to hold another hearing on whether Trump violated the gag order four more times. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, must sit in court throughout the trial, which is expected to last six weeks.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Keith Davidson, Daniels, Karen McDougal, Trump, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Bragg, Juan Merchan Organizations: New, Manhattan, Attorney, Trump Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, New York, Merchan

☆ Baltimore bridge collapse: 5th body recovered
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Joe Sutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Authorities have recovered the body of a fifth victim in the Baltimore bridge collapse five weeks ago, officials said Wednesday. A 213-million-pound cargo vessel slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, crippling the structure and killing six workers repairing potholes on it. The six construction workers were immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala. “Maryland State Police investigators along with officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the FBI responded to the scene and recovered the body of a fifth construction worker inside a red truck,” he added. Attorneys representing the families of two deceased workers and a victim who survived the fall have started their own investigation.

Persons: Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, Glen, Francis Scott Key, Luna, Roland L, Butler , Jr, Miguel Luna, CNN Butler, ” Organizations: CNN — Authorities, Unified Command, Francis Scott Key Bridge, CNN, El, CASA, “ Unified Command, Maryland Department of State Police, State Police, Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, FBI, US Coast Guard, Grace Ocean Private Limited, Synergy Marine PTE LTD Locations: Baltimore, Glen Burnie , Maryland, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Maryland

☆ Stormy Daniels' lawyer says 'extremely strict reading' of her earlier Trump affair denial was true because the relationship wasn't 'romantic'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Davidson testified on Thursday that "an extremely strict reading of this statement would technically be true" based on how he would parse "affair," "romantic," and "and/or." Asked by Steinglass whether "there was a sexual encounter" between Daniels and Trump, Davidson said he believed there was. Related storiesDavidson also said the statement's denial of rumors that Daniels "received hush money" from Trump was also true, because he "would never use that word." Advertisement"There wasn't hush money. Cohen worked at all hours trying to keep the narrative under control, sending text messages "with little regard for my schedule," Davidson testified.

Persons: —, Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump —, Joshua Steinglass, Davidson, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Davison, Donald Trump, Trump, reimbursements, Cohen, MARK PETERSON, Dylan Howard, Jimmy Kimmel, Marilyn Monroe, Hollywood Roosevelt Organizations: Service, Trump, Business, Manhattan, Attorney's, Manhattan Criminal, Getty, National Locations: New York City, Hollywood

☆ Fact check: Trump falsely claims he’s not allowed to testify at hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed Thursday that he is not allowed to testify in his own defense at a criminal trial in Manhattan over his alleged falsification of business records. After leaving the courtroom for the day, Trump told reporters, “I’m not allowed to testify. I’m under a gag order. He is allowed to testify at the trial; the decision is entirely up to him. Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order, which narrowly restricts his out-of-court speech, does not in any way stop him from testifying.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “ I’m, who’s, ”, he’s, I’m, Judge Juan Merchan’s, Joe Biden, Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney Locations: Manhattan, Michigan

☆ Opinion | The Magic Constitutionalism of Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Nor is that an example of “living constitutionalism,” which holds that the Constitution’s meaning can evolve over time, a concept that conservatives deplore. He also promised to pursue “the entire Biden crime family.”We should take Trump’s threats seriously, but neither those threats nor the threats of other politicians to prosecute Biden change the text or structure of the Constitution. Otherwise, presidents should remain subject to the rule of law, and not simply when they’re engaged in private conduct. Ordinarily, I would have considerable confidence that the Supreme Court — dominated as it is by originalists — would rather quickly and decisively reject Trump’s argument. And I’m less alarmed than some other analysts by the content of the justice’s questions at oral argument.

Persons: Trump, That’s, ’, Joe Biden, ”, isn’t, Biden, they’re, —, originalists —, MAGA, Anderson Organizations: Justice, Trump Locations: USA, Colorado, United States

Rumors that the Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan was in rehab. A lawsuit by Hulk Hogan, the former pro wrestler, against the gossip website Gawker for publishing a tape of him having sex. Testimony on Thursday at former President Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan dove deeply into the celebrity-obsessed digital media environment of the past fifteen years or so that helped fuel Mr. Trump’s rise to political prominence. In his testimony, particularly as he was cross-examined, Mr. Davidson and a defense lawyer, Emil Bove, together led the jurors on a whirlwind tour of several gossipy and tawdry deals he had a hand in. Prosecutors say that the former president’s efforts to continue to keep the story hidden were criminal.

Persons: Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Hulk Hogan, Donald J, Keith Davidson, Davidson, Emil Bove, Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Michael D, Cohen Organizations: Hollywood, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, Los Angeles

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