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Washington CNN —Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared defiant Tuesday as he spent hours fielding questions from lawmakers on a range of topics, occasionally sparring with Republican House members seeking to use his testimony to attack the Justice Department. “These repeated attacks on the Justice Department are unprecedented, and they are unfounded,” he told lawmakers. “I will not be intimidated, and the Justice Department will not be intimidated. “It is not the fault of the Department of Justice that Donald Trump has surrounded himself with criminals,” Lieu said. “Trump brought that upon himself.”Lieu also noted that President Biden’s son Hunter is being prosecuted “in federal court right now” by Garland’s Justice Department.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Garland, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden, Garland’s, Joe Biden’s, Robert Hur, ” Garland, lobbed, ”, “, Biden, Trump, Jack Smith’s, Jim Jordan, Jack Smith, Smith, Jordan, Hunter Biden’s, Ben Cline, Cline, Ted Lieu, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, Michael Cohen, Roger Stone, Elliott Broidy –, ” Lieu, “ Trump, Biden’s, Hunter Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, Justice Department, GOP, Department, DOJ, CNN, Manhattan District, Republicans, Trump, Manhattan District Attorney, Justice, Ohio Republican, White House, Democratic, Department of Justice, Garland’s Justice Department Locations: New York, York, Washington ,, Florida, Delaware, Trump

☆ Trump and his allies braced for a guilty verdict. Then the bombshell arrived
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The next time former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally will be his first as a convicted felon. The 34-count guilty verdict reached Thursday by a Manhattan jury – the first criminal conviction of a former president – landed like a bomb on the American political landscape. Trump’s campaign had long braced for this outcome, readying their candidate and his supporters for an unfavorable conclusion by casting the case as a political spectacle. But now that a verdict has arrived, uncertainty lurks behind every decision. Trump and his lawyer, Todd Blanche, have indicated they will appeal, a process that could outlast the campaign itself.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Joe Biden, Trump, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen, ” Trump, Biden, Todd Blanche, Merchan, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, ”, Jim Jordan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Marco Rubio, JD Vance, Ohio –, Vance, “, subpoenaing Merchan, ” Vance, Larry Hogan, Chris LaCivita, ” LaCivita, ” CNN’s Kristen Holmes Organizations: CNN, Trump Tower, Trump, Republican, White, Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, Libertarian, Ohio, Attorney, Fox News, Democratic, Republican Senate, College Republicans, Committee Locations: Manhattan, York, Bedminster , New Jersey, Coast, California, Nevada, Milwaukee, New York, Trump’s, Georgia, Throughout Washington, Marco Rubio of Florida, Maryland

☆ Chief Justice John Roberts declines to meet with Democratic lawmakers about ethics flap and Alito’s flags
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday rejected a meeting request from Democratic lawmakers who wanted to discuss two provocative flags hoisted at Justice Samuel Alito’s properties. “Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances,” Roberts wrote in a letter released by the Supreme Court. “My wife is fond of flying flags,” Alito wrote. The Supreme Court is considering two appeals tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the US Capitol. Whitehouse posted on social media that “the work must continue” until the Supreme Court applies “honest fact-finding and neutral decision-making” to itself.

Persons: John Roberts, Samuel Alito’s, ” Roberts, Alito, Martha, Ann Alito, “, ” Alito, Donald Trump, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Alito’s recusal, Roberts “, Roberts, ”, Jack Smith’s, Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, they’ve Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Supreme, Capitol, Committee, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat Locations: New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island

☆ Alito tells lawmakers he will not recuse from Supreme Court cases despite flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal,” Alito wrote in a letter distributed by the Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices rarely get into a back-and-forth with lawmakers and many members of the court do not explain their reasons for recusing – or not. Video Ad Feedback See how GOP lawmakers reacted to Judge Alito's flag controversy 01:24 - Source: CNNThe Supreme Court is weighing major cases tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the US Capitol. From Google“I had no involvement in the decision to fly that flag,” Alito wrote. Justice Alito also told Fox News the neighbor used the term “c*nt” at one point during the exchanges.

Persons: Samuel Alito, ” Alito, Alito, recusing, Alito's, Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith’s, “, –, Martha, Ann Alito, Samuel Alito's, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin, ”, ” Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Clarence Thomas ’, —, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, John Roberts, Thomas, Hank Johnson, Alito’s, ” Johnson, Trump, Justice Alito, “ Alito, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, CNN’s Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Kate Sullivan, Jack Forrest, Morgan Rimmer, Tierney Sneed, Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, Supreme, Trump, US Supreme, Google, ’, recusal, Democratic, Illinois Democrat, Rhode Island Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Georgia Democrat, United States Supreme, New York Times, Fox News, Times, Republicans Locations: Alexandria, Virginia, New Jersey, Long Beach, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia, House

☆ Biden pledges to name progressives to the Supreme Court, suggesting he expects vacancies
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden promised Black voters Wednesday that he would appoint progressives to the US Supreme Court if elected to a second term, suggesting he expects vacancies on the high court over the next four years. The ideological makeup of the court has emerged as one of the defining facets of American political power. Breyer announced his retirement in January 2022, allowing Biden to fulfill a campaign pledge to nominate a Black woman to the court, Ketanji Brown Jackson. Instead, he consulted the justice on lower court nominations as a way to cultivate a degree of comfort with the process. “Many presidents never get the opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court justice.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, they’re, we’ve, ”, Biden, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, —, Wade, Stephen Breyer, Breyer, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Don McGahn, Anthony Kennedy, Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump, Amy Coney Barrett, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Black, Wednesday, Republican, Committee, Liberal, White, Trump, “, Liberty Locations: Philadelphia, Roe

☆ Opinion: I’ve observed the Trump jury. Here’s what could be happening in deliberations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

They are the first jury in the 235-year history of the United States to be confronted with that weighty question. The payment was made to keep her silent about allegations that she and Trump had a sexual encounter (which Trump denies) ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Merchan then offered a detailed explanation of the legal rules that the jury must apply to make those determinations. This time it was for the judge to re-read the jury instructions to them, another indicator of the care they are taking in deliberations. We will see how long their deliberations take, but this afternoon’s developments suggest that it will not be an instant process.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, ”, Juan Merchan, Donald Trump’s Manhattan, Trump, Norm Eisen, Norm Eisen Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, —, David Pecker, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, Blanche, Pecker, Cohen, Karen McDougal, McDougal Organizations: CNN, Yorkers, National Enquirer, Trump, Twitter, Facebook Locations: American, United States, Manhattan

☆ An intensifying Republican-led legal campaign alleging big advertisers colluded to defund conservative media is rankling the ad industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Judiciary Committee's probe has sought documents related to discussions about advertising on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. GARM and its members developed a "brand safety floor and suitability framework" for the industry to adopt. Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee issued wide-ranging subpoenas to both GARM and the WFA last year as part of the probe. The CEOs were also told to preserve all existing and future records related to their companies' work with GARM. Advertisement"GARM's members and board members are senior advertisers," a marketing executive close to GARM said.

Persons: —, Jim Jordan, GARM, Sherman, Jordan, Ørsted, Joe Rogan, Elon, Vivian Zink, Ørsted didn't, Rob Rakowitz, Unilever —, Breitbart, Joe Rogan's, Ben Shapiro, Michael Brochstein, Jim Jordan's, Lou Paskalis, Ad Fontes Media's Paskalis, Paskalis Organizations: Service, Global Alliance, Responsible Media, Business, Spotify, Syfy, NBCU, Getty, World Federation, YouTube, WFA, Diageo, GroupM, Procter, Gamble, Unilever, Steer Team, Fox News, Daily, Republican, Federalist, US Department of State, Ad Fontes Media Locations: Ohio, GARM, Jordan, Texas

☆ RFK Jr. super PAC chair to publish tell-all memoir by mother of Hunter Biden's child
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The meeting is part of the Republicans' impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The co-chairman of a super PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s presidential campaign announced plans Tuesday to publish a tell-all memoir this summer by an Arkansas woman who had a child with Hunter Biden, the youngest son of President Joe Biden. "Out of the Shadows: My Life Inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden" is written by Lunden Roberts, who gave birth to Hunter Biden's daughter in 2018. Roberts' memoir will be published by Skyhorse Publishing, a company whose president, Tony Lyons, is a co-founder of the pro-Kennedy super PAC American Values 2024. Lyons said a press release that Roberts' memoir contains "revelations that could well impact the outcome of the 2024 election."

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Lunden Roberts, Hunter Biden's, Biden —, —, Roberts, Biden, Tony Lyons, AV24, Lyons, Skyhorse, Alex Jones, Sen, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Skyhorse Publishing, Kennedy, Skyhorse, PAC, CNBC, Democratic, Calif, Republican, NBC Locations: O'Neill, Washington ,, Arkansas, Texas, Iraq

☆ Republican senators defend Alito over second controversial flag
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Manu Raju | Morgan Rimmer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Top Republican senators are defending Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito as the conservative justice became embroiled in a second flag controversy, even as some Democrats call for Alito to recuse himself from key matters pending before the high court. “I just think Democrats are determined to harass members of the Supreme Court. So obviously, they don’t like Justice Alito or the decisions he makes,” he told CNN. Several prominent Republican senators criticized Alito over the upside-down flag. “I think the question is how many MAGA battle flags does the Supreme Court justice have to fly until the rest of the court takes it seriously?” he asked.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Alito, Donald Trump, Sen, John Cornyn, “, Sotomayor, Kagan, ”, Clarence Thomas, —, GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, Sonia Sotomayor, “ I’m, ’, Grassley, Trump, Joe Biden’s, –, Thom Tillis, I’m, you’re, ” Tillis, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Cassidy, Cassidy, Sheldon Whitehouse, MAGA, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Alito’s, ” Clark, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Annie Grayer Organizations: CNN, Top Republican, Capitol, Committee, GOP, “, Supreme, New York Times, Times, Senate, Democratic, Democrat, United States Supreme Locations: New Jersey

☆ New York Times: Another controversial flag spotted outside an Alito property
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Citing photographs and interviews with neighbors, the Times reports that the “Appeal to Heaven” flag was seen on display at his property last summer. It’s the second revelation in as many weeks about a controversial display outside Alito’s property. Like the inverted US flag, the Appeal to Heaven flag – also known as the Pine Tree flag – was seen during the attack on the Capitol. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced blowback for displaying the same flag outside his office last year before assuming the leadership post. An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside Speaker Mike Johnson's personal office in the Cannon House Office Buiding on Wednesday, May 22.

Persons: Samuel Alito’s, Donald Trump, ”, Alito, Shay Horse, –, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, George Washington’s, I’ve, ” Johnson, Mike, Trump, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jim Jordan, Judge Thomas –, Judge Kavanaugh, ” Jordan, CNN’s Manu Raju, CNN’s Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Morgan Rimmer, Manu Raju Organizations: CNN, Capitol, New York Times, Times, Trump, Capitol ., Cannon, Texas, ” Locations: New Jersey, Virginia, Washington , DC

☆ Opinion: Trump’s defense ends on one disastrous witness
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Part of the reason for those modest hopes was the fact that the defense case would not include testimony by the defendant. Later, the charging conference to agree on jury instructions showed how daunting the law is that Trump faces. All of that is bad news not just for Costello, whose clash with Merchan won Trump’s praise outside the courtroom Monday, but also for the defense. Because Costello was one of Trump’s only witnesses, there is also the risk that he — and the jury’s reaction to his poor attitude — will taint the defense case overall. There was little the defense could do about the law in the charging conference beyond their usual able argument.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, Costello, Michael Cohen, Susan Hoffinger, ” Cohen, Rudy Giuliani, Cohen, —, Trump, Norm Eisen, Stormy Daniels, ”, parrying, Merchan, it’s, Matthew Colangelo, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump —, FBI, Prosecutors, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, , New York

☆ Opinion: Trump’s defense got one last shot at Michael Cohen. Did they make their case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The biggest drama in the trial of former President Donald Trump on Monday came not, as expected, in the cross-examination of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. His testimony wrapped without any moments approaching the significance of last week’s defense hits on the star witness. Cohen had already admitted that he lied to Costello, and indeed lied more broadly to protect Trump before cooperating with the government. But Cohen has already testified that he lied about Trump’s knowledge of the payment to Daniels before cooperating with prosecutors. It culminated before the lunch break with a bit of razzle- dazzle to bolster Cohen’s testimony about what happened on that phone call with Schiller and Trump.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, — Robert Costello, Cohen —, audibly, Juan Merchan, Costello, ” Merchan, cautioning, ’, …, ” Costello, Merchan, Norm Eisen, Cohen, chastising Costello, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Schiller, —, Trump’s, ”, Susan Hoffinger, Perry Mason Organizations: CNN, Monday, Trump, Trump Organization, SPAN, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Trump’s Manhattan, Tampa , Florida

☆ Inside Oracle's Deadly Gamble on Cerner and Electronic Health Records
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ashley Stewart | Blake Dodge | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

That was the promise of Cerner, the medical-records company Oracle bought in 2021 for $28.3 billion — Oracle's biggest acquisition. At the time, Cerner managed the electronic health records for a quarter of all American hospitals, including those run by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Larry EllisonCerner's electronic records, in short, were a deadly disaster for the VA. Never mind the futuristic, AI-driven healthcare system Ellison envisioned. In 2015, it beat out Epic, its main competitor, for a $4.3 billion contract to handle electronic health records for the Defense Department. It had agreed to process tens of millions of crucial medical records, but it couldn't handle the subsequent deluge of data.

Persons: Larry Ellison's, Ellison, Cerner, I'm, Larry Ellison, Neal Patterson, Cerner's, Patterson, Ellison's, they're, David Shulkin, Margaret Albaugh, Cerner couldn't, Charlie Bourg, —, Larry, Marc Benioff, Ellison protégé, Mike Wilson, David Agus, oncologist, Agus, he'd, Steve Jobs, Sensei, We've, Georges De Keerle, Cerner —, hadn't, Mike Sicilia, Sicilia, Oracle, Anthony Jones Jr, Jones, Donald Remy, didn't, Seema Verma, Neil Evans, Sara Vaezy, Ed Meagher, haven't, Charlie Monroe —, it's, Charlie Bourg —, Bourg, Charlie Monroe, Monroe, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, grandkids, We're, there's Organizations: Oracle's, Oracle, Pentagon, Department of Veterans Affairs, Cerner, RAND Corporation, RAND, Big Tech, GE, Siemens, Cerner Corporation, Defense Department, Department of Defense, Business, Spokane, Ellison Institute of Technology, Microsoft, Agency, Health, Amazon, Veterans ' Affairs, Oracle Health, Navy, Columbus VA, BI, Life Sciences, Intermountain Health, UPMC, DOD, Seabees Locations: Las Vegas, antiaging, Silicon Valley, Spokane , Washington, Cerner, VistA, Bourg, Washington, Sicilia, Ohio, Columbus, Providence, Spokane, Monroe, CloudWorld

☆ Supreme Court Justice Alito urged to step off Trump election case over U.S. flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Associate Justice Samuel Alito poses during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, April 23, 2021. The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday urged Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from considering cases related to the 2020 election, including the question of former President Donald Trump's immunity from criminal prosecution, because of controversy over an upside-down U.S. flag that flew outside Alito's home after the election. "Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called 'Stop the Steal' movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias," said Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who heads the Judiciary Committee. "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President's immunity in U.S. v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering," Durbin said in a statement. "The Court is in an ethical crisis of its own making, and Justice Alito and the rest of the Court should be doing everything in their power to regain public trust."

Persons: Samuel Alito, Donald Trump's, Sen, Dick Durbin, Alito, Durbin, Donald Trump, Justice Alito Organizations: New York Times, Illinois Democrat, Committee Locations: Washington, Virginia

☆ Justice Samuel Alito blames upside-down American flag on his wife and a flap with neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( John Fritze | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Alito said that a neighbor had posted a sign saying “F**k Trump” near a school bus stop and then a sign attacking his wife, Martha-Ann Alito. The upside-down flag was a symbol for former President Donald Trump’s supporters who falsely claimed widespread fraud in the presidential election. A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court has not respond to CNN’s requests for comment. “Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias,” Durbin said in a statement. Renewed calls for ethics reformThe Supreme Court is weighing major cases this term tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the Capitol.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Alito, Martha, Ann Alito, Fox, Donald Trump’s, Tim Walz, “ I’m, Joe Biden’s, “, ”, “ It’s, Trump, Hank Johnson, Clarence Thomas, ” MAGA, Thomas, ” Johnson, ” Sen, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin, Sen, Tom Cotton, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Jack Smith’s, John Roberts, Sheldon Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, Roe, Wade, Renee Knake Jefferson, ” Jefferson Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Trump, Democratic, Capitol, Minnesota Gov, New York Times, Times, Gadsden, Georgia Democrat, Committee, Illinois Democrat, Republicans, Arkansas Republican, Republican, Congress, Supreme, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat, ”, University of Houston Law Center Locations: Minnesota, Alexandria , Virginia, Washington, DC, Georgia, House, Arkansas, ”, Carolina, Rhode Island

It’s just the latest sign that the pilgrimage to Trump’s criminal trial in New York has become a new litmus test for Trump loyalty inside the GOP ahead of November. Then, the GOP members joined Trump in his motorcade – including the Republican candidate challenging GOP Rep. Bob Good, who has tried to cozy up to Trump after initially endorsing Florida Gov. President, we’ve got your back,” GOP Rep. Andy Ogles said outside the courthouse. Gaetz along with Boebert and GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who were all in New York on Thursday, missed the vote. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked outrage when she went after Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s appearance and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, with the committee meeting devolving into a heated sparring match.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Mike Johnson – who’s, “ There’s, It’s, it’s, Johnson, Lauren Boebert, Ralph Norman of, ”, Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Rick Scott, Vivek, Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Sen, We’ve, Eric, Bob Good, Ron DeSantis –, “ Mr, we’ve, Andy Ogles, ” Norman, “, Matt Gaetz, Stormy Daniels, Andrew Kelly, Reuters Legislating, Merrick Garland, Joe BIden’s, Robert Hur –, Andy Biggs, Biden, Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jasmine Crockett’s, devolving, haven’t, “ Greene, johnny, suzy, latelys, Greene –, –, Boebert, Greene, “ Lauren Boebert, ” Boebert Organizations: CNN, Trump, he’s, GOP, Republicans, ”, North Dakota Gov, Manhattan Criminal, Caucus, Capitol, White House, Republican, Florida Gov, US Capitol Police, U.S, Reuters, Judiciary, Democratic Rep Locations: Manhattan, New York, Rick Scott of Florida, Colorado, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Ohio, New York City, Trump, U.S, Capitol Hill, Israel, Gaza, Gaetz, Alexandria

☆ Meta slapped with child safety probe under sweeping EU tech law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Facebook parent company Meta on Thursday was hit with a major investigation from the European Union into alleged breaches of the bloc's strict online content law over child safety risks. The Commission added that it is concerned about age verifications on Meta's platforms, as well as privacy risks linked to the company's recommendation algorithms. "This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission." The EU said it will carry out an in-depth investigation into Meta's child protection measures "as a matter of priority."

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, Thierry Breton Organizations: Dirksen, Facebook, Meta, European Union, European Commission, CNBC Locations: Washington ,

☆ House passes TICKET Act in an effort to increase transparency in pricing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The House passed the Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act on Wednesday in an effort to increase price transparency for consumers. The TICKET Act would require sellers to list the total cost of a ticket to buyers, including fees. The bill would prohibit deceptive websites used by secondary sellers and require sellers to provide refunds if an event is canceled. There is a related bill in the Senate, also called the TICKET Act, that seeks to give consumers similar protections. The TICKET Act was first introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., in June 2023.

Persons: Taylor, Gus Bilirakis, Bilirakis Organizations: Senate, Lawmakers, Ticketmaster, House Energy, Commerce

Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas arrives for the swearing-in ceremony of Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Supreme Court Justice in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 10, 2017. Two leading Democratic senators are pressing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to say whether he repaid a wealthy friend any of the principal for a $267,230 loan he used to buy a luxury motorhome. The letter to Thomas's lawyer, dated Tuesday, raises questions about potential tax violations by the conservative justice, who is the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court. Democrats point to reports that his wife, Ginni Thomas, took part in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump's immunity appeal on April 25, with Thomas on the bench.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Prevost Le, Wyden, Elliot Berke, Whitehouse, Justice Thomas, Welters, Berke, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Harlan, Donald Trump, Ginni Thomas Organizations: Justice, White House, D.C, New York Times, Finance Committee Locations: Rose, Washington, Welters

☆ Biden Asserts Executive Privilege in Fight Over Recording of Special Counsel Interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Glenn Thrush | Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden has asserted executive privilege to deny House Republicans access to recordings of his interview with a special counsel investigating his handling of government documents, Justice Department officials and the White House counsel said on Thursday. The move is intended to shield Attorney General Merrick B. Garland from prosecution if House Republicans succeed in their effort to hold him in contempt for refusing to turn over audio of Mr. Biden’s conversations with the special counsel, Robert K. Hur. The move is certain to draw the ire of former President Donald J. Trump and his allies, but it is in keeping with the practice of his administration and that of his predecessor, President Barack Obama. The Justice Department cited executive privilege in opting not to pursue charges against two of Mr. Garland’s predecessors when they were held in contempt: Eric H. Holder Jr., a Democrat, in 2012 and William P. Barr, a Republican, in 2020. “It is the longstanding position of the executive branch held by administrations of both parties that an official who asserts the president’s claim of executive privilege cannot be prosecuted for criminal contempt of Congress,” Carlos F. Uriarte, the assistant attorney general for legislative affairs, wrote in a letter to Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, who leads the Oversight Committee.

Persons: Biden, General Merrick B, Garland, Robert K, Hur, Donald J, Trump, Barack Obama, Eric H, Holder Jr, William P, Barr, ” Carlos F, Jim Jordan of, James R, Comer Organizations: Justice Department, White, Republicans, The, Democrat, Republican, Committee Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio, Comer of Kentucky

☆ Key House panels set to advance contempt proceedings against Garland over Biden audio files
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —House Republicans will take their first step towards holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress on Thursday for refusing to turn over the audio recordings of special counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with President Joe Biden. The House Oversight and Judiciary committees will each hold markups on their respective reports recommending a contempt of Congress resolution against Garland for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena. If passed out of the committees, the resolutions would next go to the House floor for a vote by the whole chamber. While Hur’s probe led to no charges against the president, Republicans have seized on Hur’s description of Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” in his final report. DOJ has also outlined distinct privacy concerns related to an audio recording of an interview compared to a written transcript, and how the release of such an audio file could dissuade cooperation from future witnesses in criminal investigations.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Robert Hur’s, Joe Biden, Garland, Hur, Biden, Mark Zwonitzer, Carlos Uriarte, ” Uriarte, “, , Donald Trump Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, of Justice, Republicans, CNN, DOJ, House Republicans, Republican, ” Republicans Locations: New York City

☆ New York Democrat who sharply criticizes Israel faces ouster threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

By December, he was standing with hunger strikers outside the White House, upping his criticism of the actions in Gaza. Shelley Mayer, a state senator whose district largely overlaps with the congressional district, initially backed Bowman. New York state Sen. Shelley Mayer at a state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in April 2023, in Albany. Explaining how his response to the Israel-Hamas war fits his district, Bowman cited a poll conducted by his campaign that he claimed showed an overwhelming majority in his district support a permanent ceasefire. The Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) has endorsed Latimer and is expecting to spend to boost him.

Persons: Jamaal Bowman’s, Manu Raju ”, Jamaal Bowman, Israel’s, Israel, Bowman, upping, He’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Shelley Mayer, George Latimer, Sen, Hans Pennink, ” Mayer, “, ”, We’ve, ” Bowman, Rashida Tlaib, Jonathan Jackson, Cori Bush, Nathan Howard, Biden, Chuck Schumer, –, New Yorker, Usamah Andrabi, Jeenah, Latimer, Jimmy Carter, Hakeem Jeffries, Kevin Riley, Riley, Israel doesn’t, ” Latimer, he’s, he’d, ‘, ’ ” Bowman, Amy Paulin, it’s, ” Paulin, Jamaal, Mandel Ngan, Latimer hasn’t, Patrick Dorton, Jeremy Ben, Ami, Ben, ” Ben, Steny Hoyer, Hoyer, ” Hoyer Organizations: CNN, Democrat, United Nations, J, New York Democrats, Democratic, Westchester, Republican, Capitol, Fox News, ”, Reps, House, Iron, Democratic Socialists, America’s, Michigan Rep, Palestinian, Israel, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, New, George Latimer voters, Democrats, Washington Post, House Democratic, Conservative, Getty, Jewish Voters, Empowerment, Black, AIPAC, PAC United Democracy, Democratic Party, ” Maryland Locations: Gaza, Bronx, Westchester County, That’s, New York, Washington, Israel, Washington groaned, George Latimer . New York, Albany, Palestine, Palestinian, York, Palestinian American, ”, White Plains , New York, Yonkers, Rye, Brooklyn, Westchester, Scarsdale, Washington ,, AFP

☆ Opinion: Michael Cohen has lied. Here’s why the Trump jury can believe him
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Pecker explained that for the scheme to further benefit Trump’s campaign, he later set in motion the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump claimed Cohen made the payment on his own and not at Trump’s direction, but Hicks did not believe him. He testified that he was under the belief that Cohen needed Trump’s approval to wire any funds and that Trump was the source. Former Trump Organization accountant Deborah Tarasoff also told the jury that Trump was directly involved in reimbursing Cohen. She spoke at length about how Trump continued to focus on personal and Trump Organization business minutiae while in the White House.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, CNN — Michael Cohen, Trump, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Norm Eisen, Daniels, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, ” Hicks, Hicks, Allen Weisselberg, ” Trump, Weisselberg, Keith Davidson, Davidson, Deborah Tarasoff, reimbursing Cohen, Tarasoff, Donald J, Eric Trump, Reimbursing Cohen Cohen, Trump’s, Jeffrey McConney, I’ve, ” McConney, Madeleine Westerhout, Westerhout, Sally Franklin, ” Organizations: CNN, Trump, American Media, National Enquirer, Trump Organization, Trump Revocable Trust, White House, White, Twitter, Facebook, Random, “ Trump, The Trump Organization Locations: Trump’s Manhattan, Manhattan, Trump, “

☆ Opinion: Stormy Daniels turned the tables on the Trump team’s strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Trump denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels and has pleaded not guilty. It was expected that the cross would be even tougher today and, indeed, Necheles furiously attacked Daniels from the get-go. In the most pointed back-and-forth of the day, Necheles attacked Daniels’ recollection of the circumstances surrounding her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. It also reinforced Daniels’ Tuesday testimony that she felt a power imbalance with Trump at the time of the encounter. I interviewed him on these identical facts for the first Trump impeachment and I expect he, like Daniels, will exceed expectations.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Susan Necheles capably, Norm Eisen, Necheles, Trump, ” Daniels, I’m, unclothed, ”, Michael Cohen Organizations: CNN, Manhattan, Trump, Prosecutors, Twitter, Facebook

☆ House Judiciary chief launches investigation into Formula 1 over Andretti exclusion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee is launching an investigation into Formula 1 and its U.S. owner, Liberty Media , to demand answers about the sport's decision to deny Andretti Global a spot on the grid. The letter is dated Tuesday and addressed to Greg Maffei, the president and CEO of Liberty Media, and Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of Formula One Group. "Delaying Andretti Cadillac's entry into Formula One for even one year will harm American consumers to benefit failing Formula One teams," Jordan writes. "Limiting the number of teams in Formula One will increase the price of sponsoring or buying into an existing Formula One team. The letter comes days after Mario Andretti, a former Formula 1 world champion, visited Capitol Hill and spoke at a press conference with lawmakers to pressure the sport to admit Andretti Global.

Persons: Mario Andretti, John James, Jim Jordan, Greg Maffei, Stefano Domenicali, Andretti, Jordan Organizations: Washington , DC, Andretti, Capitol, General Motors, Committee, Liberty Media, NBC News, Formula One, Formula, One, Andretti Global, Capitol Hill Locations: Washington ,, Ohio, United States, Michigan

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