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The hefty sum underscores the legal jeopardy Trump faces as he marches toward securing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the legal spending. Trump’s campaign paid Atlanta attorney Steven Sadow $1.5 million in the second half of 2023. Campaign money was also used to pay attorneys who have represented co-defendants and potential witnesses in the Trump cases. The New York attorney general’s case against Trump centers on his business financial statements.

Persons: — Donald Trump’s, Eli Bartov, Bartov, Arthur Engoron, Trump, Richard Briffault, ” Briffault, he’s, Alina Habba, Jean Carroll, Carroll, “, ” Trump, schemed, Chris Kise, Foley, Lardner, Kise, Steven Sadow, Sadow, Brand, Walt Nauta, He’d, Engoron, he’d Organizations: WASHINGTON, New York University, Trump’s, New, Associated Press, Columbia Law School, White, Trump, America, New York, Continental, Atlanta, Brand Woodward Law, Save America Locations: New York, New Jersey, Carroll, York, Largo, Florida, Georgia, New York City, Washington, Trump’s, Lago

One of the people said the Justice Department case accuses Rocha of working to promote the Cuban government’s interests. The Justice Department declined to comment. It was not immediately clear if Rocha had a lawyer and a law firm where he previously worked said it was not representing him. Following his retirement from the State Department, Rocha began a second career in business, serving as the president of a gold mine in the Dominican Republic partly owned by Canada’s Barrick Gold. Foley & Lardner said Rocha left the law firm in August.

Persons: —, Manuel Rocha, Rocha, Fidel Castro’s, Evo Morales, “, ″ Rocha, Morales, Rocha’s, ” Rocha, Karla Wittkop Rocha, ”, Canada’s Barrick, he’s, Foley, Lardner, ” Dario Alvarez, ____ Tucker Organizations: MIAMI, Associated Press, Justice Department, AP, Democratic, Republican, Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, Bolivian, National Security Council, State Department, Canada’s, Clover Leaf, Llorente, Cuenca’s Locations: American, Bolivia, Miami, Cuban, America, Cuba, U.S, Colombia, New York City, Argentina, Washington, United States, Italy, Honduras, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Pennsylvania, Spanish, Cuenca, “, Investigative@ap.org

☆ COVID-19 fraudsters bought fancy cars, a Pokemon card - even a private island
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Patrick Parker Walsh is serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in part, to buy the island. Instead, he's serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in part, to buy Sweetheart Island. They potentially plundered more than $280 billion in federal COVID-19 aid; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. They've created special "strike forces " to hunt down COVID-19 aid thieves and vowed not to give up the chase. A few weeks after Oudomsine applied for the pandemic aid, the government rushed him $85,000 to keep his non-existent business afloat.

Persons: Richard Lardner, Patrick Parker Walsh, Julio Aguilar, he's, fraudsters, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, James Brady, Trump, Alex Wong, Bob Westbrooks, Westbrooks, They've, Lisa Monaco, General Merrick Garland, Garland, David Weiss, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Drew Angerer, Konstantinos Zarkadas, Cartier, Zarkadas, Lee E, Price III, Price, Vinath Oudomsine, Oudomsine, Mickey Mantle, Dudley H, Bowen, Patrick Walsh's, Walsh, Jamie Lovemark, Kevin Lamarque Organizations: Press, AP YANKEETOWN, Associated Press ., James, Getty, YouTube, U.S . Justice, Top Justice Department, U.S, U.S . Department of Justice, Rolex, Houston, Associated Press, National Transportation Safety Board, Bethany Locations: Yankeetown, Fla, Sweetheart, Coast, Florida's, Florida, Associated Press . WASHINGTON, DC, U.S, Washington ,, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Vermont, COVID, Washington , DC, New York, Houston, Georgia, America, Bethany Beach , Delaware

WASHINGTON (AP) — Before House Speaker Mike Johnson was elected to public office, he was the dean of a small Baptist law school that didn't exist. “The law school deal was really an anomaly. As dean of the proposed law school, Johnson embarked on a major fundraising campaign and described a big-dollar event in Houston with former Arkansas Gov. Bobby Jindal and Pressler, according to an account Johnson wrote in a 2011 alumni magazine. Meanwhile, the historic former federal courthouse in Shreveport that was selected as the law school’s campus required at least $20 million in renovations.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, It's, “, ”, Gene Mills, Johnson's, ” J, Michael Johnson, Southern Baptist Convention luminary, Tony Perkins, Jerry Falwell, “ I’m, Joe Aguillard, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Aguillard, “ Mike, Gilbert Little, ” Johnson, Perkins, Little, Barack, Kelly, Kelly Johnson, Louis “ Woody ” Jenkins, Jenkins, Democrat Mary Landrieu, Moon Griffin, Eugene Mills, Mills, ” Mills, Johnson’s, George W, Bush’s, it’s, Lamar White Jr, Lamar, Richard Lardner, Trenton Daniel Organizations: WASHINGTON, Paul Pressler School of Law, Louisiana College, Louisiana Christian University, Republican House, Southern Baptist Convention, Family Research, Southern Poverty Law, Liberty University, Daily, ”, Arkansas Gov, Louisiana Gov, Freedom Guard, Southern Baptist Conference, Shreveport Times, ABC News, Louisiana State University, Democrat, Louisiana Family, Alliance Defense Fund, Alliance Defending, ADF, CNN, Democratic, Civil, Associated Press Locations: Louisiana, Washington, Alexandria , Louisiana, Houston, Pressler, Africa, Shreveport, Shreveport , Louisiana, everyone’s, America, New Orleans, Texas, Orleans Parish, Trump’s, Baton Rouge, New York

The Supreme Court in recent years has struck down two trademark laws based on free speech concerns. Elster applied for the "Trump Too Small" trademark to use on T-shirts, inspired by an exchange between Trump and U.S. Elster told the Supreme Court that his trademark uses a double meaning to criticize Trump while expressing his views about "the smallness of Donald Trump's overall approach to governing." Ernst also said the law at issue does not further the overarching trademark law goal of preventing marketplace confusion. "Nobody would be confused into believing that Donald Trump is selling T-shirts accusing him of being too small," Ernst said.

Persons: Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Jim Young, Foley, Lardner, Trump, Steve Elster's, Joe Biden's, Elster, Erik Brunetti, denigrate Rubio, Marco, " Rubio, Donald Trump's, Elizabeth Prelogar, Biden, Obama, Kate, Jonathan Moskin, Moskin, Jack Daniel's, Joe, Hillary, Samuel Ernst, Ernst, Blake Brittain, Will Dunham Organizations: Republican U.S, U.S, Republican, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Supreme, U.S . Patent, Trump, Appeals, Federal Circuit, TRUMP, International Trademark Association, Golden Gate University School of Law, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, California, U.S, Virginia, America, Washington

☆ 'Trump Too Small' T-Shirt Slogan Turns Into US Supreme Court Battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

The Supreme Court in recent years has struck down two trademark laws based on free speech concerns. Elster applied for the "Trump Too Small" trademark to use on T-shirts, inspired by an exchange between Trump and U.S. Rubio responded at a campaign rally in Virginia that his rival had disproportionately small hands. Are they small hands?" Ernst also said the law at issue does not further the overarching trademark law goal of preventing marketplace confusion.

Persons: Blake Brittain WASHINGTON, Trump, Donald Trump, Steve Elster's, Joe Biden's, Elster, Erik Brunetti, Marco Rubio, denigrate Rubio, Marco, " Rubio, Donald Trump's, Elizabeth Prelogar, Biden, Obama, Kate, Jonathan Moskin, Foley, Lardner, Moskin, Jack Daniel's, Joe, Hillary, Samuel Ernst, Ernst, Blake Brittain, Will Dunham Organizations: Supreme, U.S . Patent, Trump, U.S, Appeals, Federal Circuit, TRUMP, International Trademark Association, Golden Gate University School of Law Locations: California, U.S, Virginia, America, Washington

The bulk of the Trump PAC money went to law firms that have defended Trump against a series of criminal charges or in civil lawsuits. “Well, if the little fish’s lawyer is being paid by the big fish that’s less likely to happen potentially.”The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. That money is earmarked for political and campaign activities, not for legal expenses, according to the campaign. To help pay the legal fees, Trump’s political operation has also moved millions from his super PAC, MAGA Inc. Those concerns are amplified in court records filed by Smith’s team in the Mar-a-Lago case.

Persons: — Donald Trump’s, Trump, ”, Randall Eliason, he’s, Letitia James ’, James, schemed, “, it’s, Anthony Michael Kreis, Donald Trump, Robert Lee, wasn’t Trump, Lee, Alina Habba, Christopher Kise, James ’, Habba Madaio, Habba, Jean Carroll, Mary Trump, Kise, Foley, Lardner, Chris Kise, Ron DeSantis, Sen, Rick Scott, Coleman, Ciara Torres, Jack Smith, ” Torres, Spelliscy, Joe Biden, Saurav Ghosh, don’t, ” Ghosh, Donald J, Smith, Carlos De Oliveira, De Oliveira, He’s, Walt Nauta, John Irving of, Brand, Stanley Woodward, Woodward, Mark Meadows, Dawn Smelcer, ” he’s, Eric Tucker, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Commission, Associated, Save, Republican National Committee, Democratic National Committee, National Republican Senatorial, Trump PAC, Trump, White, George Washington University Law School, MAGA Inc, Georgia State University, Associates, Save America, New York Times, PAC, Republican, Florida Gov, Continental, Stetson University College of Law, Justice Department, Justice, Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Democratic, Legal, Smith’s, FBI, John Irving of Earth & Water Law, Brand Woodward Law, Prosecutors, AP, Associated Press Locations: New York, Georgia, Fulton, Lago, Florida, Boca Raton , Florida, Washington ,, Bedminster , New Jersey, York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Save America, Fayetteville , North Carolina, Washington

The U.S. consumer agency, which enforces federal antitrust law, and 17 states filed their lawsuit against Amazon in Seattle federal court on Tuesday, asking a U.S. judge to consider an injunction and other penalties to combat alleged unlawful conduct. The FTC's lawsuit is related to but broader than a series of private consumer cases filed in recent years against Amazon that are pending in the same U.S. federal court. The private antitrust cases offer an early window into some of the legal arguments Amazon could be expected to make to challenge the FTC's lawsuit. Generally speaking, U.S. judges are "wary of using antitrust law to punish low-pricing behavior," said antitrust scholar Sean Sullivan of the University of Iowa's law school. Sullivan said it is not always a clear line between "good low pricing" — based on market competition — and "bad low pricing" that helps a company acquire or maintain market power.

Persons: Mike Segar, David Balto, Diane Hazel, Foley, Lardner, Hazel, Tom Cotter, David Zapolsky, Zapolsky, Lina Khan, Ricardo Martinez, Martinez, George W, Bush, Sean Sullivan, Sullivan, Mike Scarcella, Leigh Jones Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Trade, Amazon.com, Amazon, Reuters, FTC, U.S, University of Minnesota Law School, District, University of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Seattle, Washington, Mt, Rainier

☆ ‘Dark’ ships are faking their locations to move oil around the world — and it's likely worth billions of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Maritime technology company Windward identified the area as a hub for smuggling oil. Cargo ships and car ferries cross the Kerch Strait, an area of "dark activity," according to marine technology company Windward. So that's definitely moved that focus into, okay, I'm now going to manipulate that signal," he told CNBC by video call. This can be done in a number of ways, a Spire spokesperson told CNBC by email. "If you're in the insurance industry, and you're not paying attention to this, you really need to start paying attention," Swift told CNBC by video call.

Persons: John Lusk, Christopher Swift, Foley, Lardner, We're, Lusk, Ami Daniel, Daniel, Good Hope, Iain Goodridge, Spire's, that's, I'm, " Goodridge, OFAC, Swift Organizations: Windward, Europa Press, Getty, Maritime Organization, AIS, Spire Maritime, Government, CNBC, Russia, Anadolu Agency, Venezuela, Spire, U.S . Treasury Department Locations: Morocco, Maritime, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Kerch, Windward, Arabian, Venezuela, The U.S, East Asia, Angola, Venezuela's, South Africa's, Good, China, Malaysia

☆ Everything you need to know about UAW's targeted strike plans – and possible lockouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Targeted, or bottleneck, strikes are an alternative to national actions in which the union only strikes select plants. Targeted strikes typically focus on key plants that can then cause other plants to cease production due to a lack of parts. They include initiating targeted strikes at select plants and then potentially increasing the number of strikes based on the status of the negotiations. "We will strike all three companies, a historic first, initially at a limited number of targeted locations that we will be announcing. While "historic," the targeted strikes could have unintended ripple effects.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Rebecca Cook, Fain, Dennis Devaney, Clark, Devaney, Plant, Jeffrey S, Kopp, Lardner, everything's, UAW hasn't, Ben Dictor, Dictor Organizations: United Auto Workers, Sterling Heights Assembly, Reuters DETROIT, Ford, General Motors, UAW, NLRB, GM, Exxon Mobil, Foley, Detroit, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Sterling Heights, Sterling Heights , Michigan, U.S, Texas, Michigan

☆ Analysis-New anti-ESG rule in Missouri offers US Republicans another path away from 'wokeness'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

(Reuters) - A new Missouri securities rule offers a template for Republican U.S. state officials who want to advance an “anti-woke” business agenda even as such ideas struggle for legislative backing. Ashcroft acted after Republican lawmakers failed to pass a similar measure during the state’s legislative session that ended on May 12, amid infighting over which bills should be prioritized. Concerns over costs, bureaucracy and economic fallout led to bills stalling or passing in weakened form even in so-called red states, where Republicans dominate state government. Several corporate attorneys said other Republican officials may adopt Ashcroft’s playbook and act on their own. According to a spokesperson, Ashcroft initiated the rulemaking before the legislative session began, essentially as a backup plan in case lawmakers did not act on the same idea introduced in January.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, John “ Jay ” Ashcroft, Ashcroft, “, ” overreach, Ashcroft’s, ”, Beth I.Z, Boland, Lardner, Larry Fink, ’ Ashcroft, ” Ashcroft, can’t, Dan Mehan, Lance Dial, Chuck Gray, West, Ron DeSantis, Walt Disney Organizations: Reuters, Republican U.S, REUTERS, Merriam, Webster, Strategy, “, Foley, Republicans, Morningstar, BlackRock, state’s, Representatives, Republican, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri, Florida Locations: Missouri, Appleton City , Missouri, U.S, Boston, Wyoming, ESG

☆ Analysis: New anti-ESG rule in Missouri offers US Republicans another path away from 'wokeness'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ashcroft acted after Republican lawmakers failed to pass a similar measure during the state's legislative session that ended on May 12, amid infighting over which bills should be prioritized. Concerns over costs, bureaucracy and economic fallout led to bills stalling or passing in weakened form even in so-called red states, where Republicans dominate state government. Several corporate attorneys said other Republican officials may adopt Ashcroft's playbook and act on their own. According to a spokesperson, Ashcroft initiated the rulemaking before the legislative session began, essentially as a backup plan in case lawmakers did not act on the same idea introduced in January. EXTRA ARROWSFinancial executives who so far have avoided the strongest laws worry that the possibility of executive or administrative actions, as in Missouri, gives state officials flexibility to keep up the pressure.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Walt Disney, Missouri's, John " Jay, Ashcroft, Ashcroft's, Beth I.Z, Boland, Lardner, Larry Fink, Dan Mehan, Lance Dial, Chuck Gray, West, Ron DeSantis, Ross Kerber, Greg Roumeliotis, Anna Driver, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Walt, Republican U.S, Merriam, Webster, Strategy, Foley, Republicans, Morningstar, BlackRock, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, state's, Representatives, Republican, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri, Florida, Thomson Locations: Appleton City , Missouri, U.S, Missouri, Boston, BLK.N, Wyoming, ESG

JetBlue will face "an uphill battle" as it fights the government," said Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute. "If I'm JetBlue, that's where I focus right now, developing that divestiture offer and lining up a buyer to 'litigate the fix,'" said Dryden. Whatever arguments JetBlue uses, a court fight could last six to eight months and cost tens of millions of dollars in attorney fees, legal experts said. Bill Baer, head of the Justice Department's antitrust division under former President Barack Obama, said the government's complaint "shows that there is meaningful competition between Spirit and JetBlue." "JetBlue brags about the 'JetBlue effect,' where they enter a market and fares tend to go down," he said.

☆ It's not just the chip shortage — other supply chain disruptions are wreaking havoc on automakers and helping keep prices high
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The pandemic, the shift to EVs, and supply chain problems are all to blame. GM's Bowling Green plant will stop Corvette output this week due to a "parts supply issue." Despite tailwinds like huge profits, high demand, and low inventory, automakers are bracing themselves for more disruptions. The relationship between automakers and their parts companies has never been perfect, but it's especially challenging of late even as the two remain codependent. Now, parts companies are struggling amid macroeconomic concerns, inflation, in addition to the transition to EV components (or risking becoming defunct), and that will impact the automakers they supply to.

☆ The race to make electric cars cheaper is making electric cars more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Electric cars aren't exactly the most affordable right now. The world of batteries influences your EV's price tagAutomakers are pouring more than $515 billion into all-electric lineups over the next several years. Mercedes is only making newly launched cars electric starting in 2025. Scaling up will inherently make electric cars less expensive over time. But, driving costs back down, he says: "The lithium prices will trigger more supply to enter the market."

☆ Key things to watch out for in the Jan. 6 report beyond Trump
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Michael Conway | Michael Conway Was Counsel For The House Judiciary Committee In The Impeachment Inquiry Of President Richard Nixon In In That Role | He Assisted In Drafting The Committee'S Final Report To The House In Support Of The Three Articles Of Impeachment Adopted The Committee. Conway Is A Graduate Of Yale Law School | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The expected recommendation that former President Donald Trump be prosecuted would be a political thunderbolt. For initial news reporting, journalists will gravitate to it rather than the report itself, and so will the general public. The expected recommendation that former President Donald Trump be prosecuted would be a political thunderbolt. On Thursday, House Democrats introduced legislation to bar Trump from holding federal office in the future. For prosecutors who have subpoenaed key witnesses to testify to a federal grand jury, this would create a unique advantage.

☆ Automakers need way more plug-in stations to make their EV plans work. That has sparked a buying frenzy as big charging players gobble up smaller ones.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Alexa St. John | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

EV charging has a newfound boost from government incentives and industry spending. The charging space has picked up momentum as automakers are pouring billions into EV development. Because of these struggles, not every company will make it — some smaller companies are betting that larger ones will gobble them up and take on their assets through mergers and acquisitions. "For the smaller companies, it's hard to scale up on their own. The auto industry's latest M&A frenzyGiven the long lead time on vehicle development, automakers have relied on consolidation to integrate expensive technology into their portfolios.

☆ Trump's day of reckoning is overdue. Garland's special counsel move adds to the delay.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Michael Conway | Michael Conway Was Counsel For The House Judiciary Committee In The Impeachment Inquiry Of President Richard Nixon In In That Role | He Assisted In Drafting The Committee'S Final Report To The House In Support Of The Three Articles Of Impeachment Adopted The Committee. Conway Is A Graduate Of Yale Law School | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate former President Donald Trump is a miscalculation, with the main problem being timing. Despite assurances from Garland that a special counsel will not bog down the investigation, reality suggests otherwise. Not to mention that past practice demonstrates that the Justice Department has regularly shown that anyone can be held accountable — without resorting to a special counsel. No special counsel was used. I believe Trump’s day of reckoning is long overdue, and Garland’s overly cautious decision to appoint a special counsel may continue postponing that day.

☆ The ad industry is prepping for a make-or-break holiday shopping season, with some advertisers pulling spend up to 25% even before Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales figures will determine whether ad spend budgets decline. Some advertisers are already pulling back spend up to 25%Last year, advertisers marched into the holiday shopping season with confidence. For retailers who are making the bulk of their money during that time, ad spend correlates to sales, Lardner said. Marketers feel less pressure to spend their fourth quarter ad budgets this yearSome advertisers are pulling back even before the holiday shopping season kicks off. Traditionally, marketers deploy most of their ad dollars during the fourth quarter — and not just because it's the holiday gifting season.

☆ New York AG's fraud civil suit against Trump hits him right in the ego
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Michael Conway | Michael Conway Was Counsel For The House Judiciary Committee In The Impeachment Inquiry Of President Richard Nixon In In That Role | He Assisted In Drafting The Committee'S Final Report To The House In Support Of The Three Articles Of Impeachment Adopted The Committee. Conway Is A Graduate Of Yale Law School | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil lawsuit filed Wednesday alleging “persistent fraud” by the Trump Organization devastates Donald Trump’s manufactured self-image as a billionaire businessman. James’ civil lawsuit strikes Trump at the two places he is most vulnerable: his ego and his money. James’ lawsuit meticulously lists fraudulent valuations for Trump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, 40 Wall Street, numerous Trump golf courses and, importantly, Trump’s cash assets. Second, James has sued not only Donald Trump but also Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Allen Weisselberg (the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization) and multiple Trump business entities. All are accused of engaging in a criminal conspiracy to defraud lenders and insurers by inflating Trump’s net worth.

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