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☆ Embattled Georgia DA Fani Willis and Trump trial judge hit the campaign trail
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sara Murray | Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Wise Smith, meantime, has faced some skepticism from voters worried that if he ousts Willis it could endanger the Trump case. The disqualification drama surrounding Willis hasn’t spared Wise Smith from skepticism from some Democrats who believe Willis will most aggressively prosecute the Trump case. “Some folks were worried that me jumping in the race, you know, might mean we lose that case,” Wise Smith said in an interview with CNN. Let me say this, I think the case is in grave jeopardy right now,” Wise Smith said of the Trump case. In a rarity for a sitting judge, McAfee has also been granting interviews to local media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Scott McAfee, ” Willis, “, Trump, Willis, Christian Wise Smith, Willis ’, Wise Smith, McAfee, Robert Patillo, he’s, Courtney Kramer, ”, Michael J, Moore, she’s, Willis hasn’t, ” Wise Smith, Wise Smith –, –, ” McAfee, wouldn’t, “ I’ve, Patillo’s, ” Patillo, “ It’s, Patillo, Brian Kemp, Roy Barnes, Kemp, Barnes, Ray Smith III, Smith, ” Moore, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, Democratic, Trump, Trump White House, Middle, Middle District of, WSB, Georgia Gov, Republican, Democrat, McAfee, Boy Scouts Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia, Inman

☆ Congressmen demand answers after CNN report contradicts Pentagon investigations into deadly Kabul airport attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The reporting included a video obtained by CNN captured by a Marine’s GoPro camera that had not been seen publicly in full before. Much of the controversy about the Pentagon’s two investigations into the attack has focused on gunfire in the aftermath of the blast. “Lastly, why do journalists have this video footage and the Department does not? The recent discovery of new video released by CNN directly contradicts and exposes outright lies from our recent briefing last month from CENTCOM officials,” the Gold Star families said in a statement they sent to CNN. Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images/FileThe evidence also suggests the Pentagon may have more video footage than it has acknowledged in public.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin “, –, ”, Mike Waltz, Darrell Issa, Tim Burchett, Brian Mast, Rich McCormick, Keith Self, Cory Mills, Chris Smith –, Sayed Ahmadi, Ahmadi, “, ” James Adams, Hamid, Jared Schmitz, Humberto Sanchez, Taylor Hoover, Nicole Gee, Kareem Nikoui, Hunter Lopez, Rylee McCollum –, Biden, Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM, I’m, Haroon Sabawoon, Rob Lodewick, ” Lodewick Organizations: CNN —, Defense, CNN, Pentagon, House Foreign Affairs, Command, Marines, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Department, Gold Star, Department of Defense, Biden Administration, “, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Army, DoD, Service Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan, US

☆ Kenneth Eugene Smith execution: Alabama set to carry out first execution by nitrogen gas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Dakin Andone | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Alabama is poised to carry out the first known execution using nitrogen gas Thursday to put Kenneth Smith to death for his role in a 1988 murder for hire. The state, in court records, indicated the redactions were made to maintain security. Smith’s team again Thursday morning appealed to the US Supreme Court and requested a stay of execution. “But the way that they’re constructing this, the way that they’re doing it, the way that they’re being silent, the way that they’re holding back information, yes, it’s incredibly concerning. Smith was convicted and sentenced to die, but an appeals court overturned the initial outcome and ordered a new trial.

Persons: Kenneth Smith, Smith, Smith’s, Steve Marshall, ”, “, Smith –, Jeff Hood, ” Hood, ” Smith’s, Elizabeth Sennett, Charles, Charles Sennett, Sennett, CNN’s Isabel Rosales, Devan Cole, Chris Youd, Olivia LaBorde Organizations: CNN, US, Supreme, Wednesday, ” Locations: Alabama

☆ George Brown, co-founding member and drummer of Kool & the Gang, dead at 74
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —George Brown, a drummer and songwriter who co-founded the band Kool & the Gang, died on Thursday. The news was confirmed to CNN via email from Kool & the Gang’s publicist Jerry Digney. After taking on various other monikers, including The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band and Kool & the Flames, they landed on Kool & The Gang, officially launching in 1969. Until he retired in August of this year, Brown toured with Kool & the Gang as part of one of the longest-running R&B groups in history. Brown is survived by his wife Hanh Brown and five sons.

Persons: CNN — George Brown, Jerry Digney, Brown, Ricky Westfield, Ronald Bell, Robert “ Kool ” Bell, Spike Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Charles Smith –, ”, Janet Jackson, Hanh Brown Organizations: CNN, Kool, Town, Flames, The, BET, New, New Jersey Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Boys Locations: Los Angeles, New Jersey, Cypress Hill

Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith urged a federal judge charged with overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal election interference case in Washington that allowing the trial to be broadcast live on television would “create a carnival atmosphere” that the former president desires. They also argued that live video coverage would help undermine conspiracy theories surrounding the case. Editorial Cartoons on Donald Trump View All 690 ImagesTrump initially took “no position” on televising the trial, according to a filing that cites his lawyers. But on Friday, the former president performed an about-face, filing a motion to Chutkan that asks her to permit his trial to be broadcast live. News organizations have sprouted around-the-clock coverage of the D.C. election interference case, along with Trump’s other indictments and criminal charges.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald, Smith, Tanya Chutkan, Donald Trump, Trump, “, Biden, ” Smith, ”, that’s, he’s Organizations: U.S, Donald Trump View Locations: Washington, Georgia’s Fulton County, New Hampshire, Manhattan

☆ Alabama sets date for first-ever US execution of death row inmate by nitrogen gas in 2024, governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Devon M. Sayers | Emma Tucker | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Alabama has scheduled the nation’s first execution by nitrogen hypoxia, an alternative to lethal injection, its Republican governor said. He asked the state to be put to death by nitrogen gas rather than lethal injection after what he called a botched execution. Smith’s execution now is set to take place between January 25 and 26, according to a news release from Gov. The court’s action came after the justices divided 6-3 earlier in the term to allow Smith’s execution to go forward by lethal injection. Smith’s case was tried by a jury twice, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has noted, both of which resulted in convictions.

Persons: Kenneth Eugene Smith’s, Kay Ivey, nodded, ”, Steve Marshall, Patrick Semansky, Smith, –, Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, Sennett’s, Smith’s, CNN’s Jamiel Lynch, Ariane De Vogue, Dakin Andone Organizations: CNN, Alabama, Republican, Gov, Court Locations: Alabama, Washington

The same man who has relentlessly attacked his political and legal enemies on the campaign trail, in the White House and on social media – often using violent and incendiary rhetoric – is now showing up at the courthouse. But unlike with his campaign rhetoric, Trump has faced consequences in the legal world for his verbal attacks. This week’s court appearances underscored the reality that Trump’s rhetoric will be the same whether he’s outside a courthouse or on the stage of a campaign rally. And he attacked the judge’s clerk as a “disgrace,” even before his social media post about her. And he said he would return to testify as a witness “at the appropriate time.”Trump’s incendiary rhetoric is nothing new.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Letitia James, Judge Arthur Engoron, Engoron, ” Engoron, “, Jack Smith –, –, ” Trump, James, he’s, ”, George Floyd, Mark Milley –, “ I’ll Organizations: CNN, White, New York, GOP, Trump, New, White House, Democrat, Republican, Capitol, Joint Chiefs, ” Locations: Manhattan, New York, Washington, DC, Florida, Georgia, New York City, South Carolina

☆ MTV VMAs 2023: See the full list of winners
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards were presented on Tuesday. Beyoncé, Doja, Karol G, Minaj and Shakira joined Swift as artist of the year nominees, marking the first time since the category was introduced in 2017 that all artist of the year nominees are women. Shakira received the Video Vanguard Award. The night also welcomed brand new category Best Afrobeats. Demi Lovato, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Doja Cat and Fall Out Boy, among others, all performed during the ceremony.

Persons: Taylor Swift, ”, Doja, Karol G, Minaj, Shakira, Swift, Demi Lovato, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi, Megan Thee, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus –, Nicki Minaj –, Olivia Rodrigo –, Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Bill ” Taylor Swift, Karol, Nicki Minaj Shakira Taylor, Cyrus –, Rema, Selena Gomez, Steve Lacy –, PinkPantheress Reneé Rapp, Saucy Santana –, Booty, Stephen Sanchez – “, Flo Milli, Conceited, Reneé Rapp – “, Sam Ryder –, Armani, GOATED, Fletcher –, Diana ”, FLO –, Lauren Spencer Smith, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Post Malone, Bryson Tiller, Yung Miami, Shakira –, Savage, Diddy, Lovato, ” Ed Sheeran, ” Taylor Swift, DJ Khaled, Lil Baby –, Swizz Beatz, ” Nicki Minaj –, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown –, Toosii –, ” Yung Bleu, Nicki Minaj, Metallica, “, –, Ella Baila Sola, Despechá, Starr – “, Musa Keys, ” Rema, Ayra Starr – Organizations: CNN, Metro Boomin, NK – Locations: Reneé Rapp – “ Colorado, Lipa

☆ Special counsel cites Truth Social post in arguing for quick court order on evidence sharing as Trump rails against 2020 election charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Tierney Sneed Kate Sullivan | Tierney Sneed | Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

To explain why they were seeking such a maneuver, prosecutors outlined the back-and-forth they had behind the scenes with the Trump team over their proposed order. Smith’s filing said that once US District Judge Tanya Chutkan approved their proposed protective order, prosecutors could begin turning over “a substantial amount of discovery” to the defense. The former president railed against the federal criminal charges at his first campaign event since being indicted a third time. It was a very bad election,” Trump, who refuses to accept he lost the 2020 election and regularly promotes election conspiracy theories, told the crowd in a roughly 50-minute speech. One more indictment and this election is closed out, nobody has even a chance,” Trump said.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump’s, ”, Trump, —, Trump’s, Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, John Lauro, Tanya Chutkan, ’ Trump, Smith –, … They’re, ” Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Trump, Alabama Republican Party, GOP Locations: Florida, Thursday’s, Washington, DC, United States

☆ Trump’s surreal arraignment day in Washington augurs ominous days ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was irked, sources familiar with his mindset told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, that the judge referred to him simply as “Mr. Any alternative Republican president could find themselves besieged by demands from Trump supporters for a pardon that, if granted, could overshadow their entire presidency. The California Republican compared Trump’s behavior to the complaints by supporters of past Democratic presidential nominees Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, who complained of electoral irregularities. A few Democrats objected to certifying Trump’s election in Congress is 2016, but Clinton did not challenge it in the courts. But their blind spot on Trump’s far worse, Constitution-threatening conduct shows just how far he has changed their party.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, –, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jack Smith –, “, ” Trump, pardoning, J, Michael Luttig, ” Luttig, ”, Geoff Duncan, ” Duncan, Richard Nixon, ” Nixon, Smith, Alberto Gonzales, George W, Bush, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Cobb, Elliot Williams, Biden’s, Kevin McCarthy, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, ” McCarthy, Gore, Clinton, Kinzinger, Biden, Hunter Organizations: CNN, Washington, Republican, Capitol, Trump, Justice Department, Department of Justice, White, GOP, California Republican, Democratic, Supreme, CNN Republicans, Republicans Locations: America, United States, New Jersey, Georgia, California, China, Ukraine, Bedminster

☆ Trump set to return to Washington for monumental court date – but a national catharsis is unlikely
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hundreds of Trump’s supporters have already faced a courtroom reckoning for their efforts to disrupt the certification of a democratic election. Trump faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. Another reason why Trump’s trial is unlikely to be the kind of unifying event that eases a deep national wound is that most of his Republican Party is closing ranks around him. Given the political recriminations of a trial of a former president, it is reasonable to question whether such a prosecution is in the national interest. “Anyone who asks someone else to put themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again,” Pence told reporters at the Indiana state fair.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, snubbing, Jack Smith –, “, Van Jones, Smith, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, ” Trump, Joe Biden, President Trump, Elise Stefanik, Biden didn’t, Biden, –, Mike Pence, ”, Pence, ” Pence Organizations: CNN, GOP, Biden, Capitol, Trump, White, Republican, ”, Republican White House Locations: United States, Washington, DC, New York, Lago, Florida, Indiana

But under a Colorado public accommodations law, she said she cannot post the statement because the state considers it illegal. The ruling – rooted in free speech grounds – will pierce state public accommodation laws for those businesses who sell so-called “expressive” goods. It is the latest victory for religious conservatives at the high court and will alarm critics who fear the current court is setting its sights on overturning the 2015 marriage case. When the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in February 2022, the justices sidestepped whether the law violated Smith’s free exercise of religion. In court, Waggoner said that the law works to compel speech in violation of the First Amendment.

Persons: Justice Neil Gorsuch, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Lorie Smith, Gorsuch, ”, Smith’s, ” Gorsuch, Sotomayor, “, ’, Kristen Waggoner, Matthew Shepard, ” Sotomayor, Bostock, Trump, Kelley Robinson, Ritchie Torres, ” Torres, Waggoner, Smith, Smith –, –, ” Smith, ” Waggoner, Eric Olson Organizations: CNN, Chief, U.S, Supreme, Pride Month, Civil, American Civil Liberties Union, ”, Democratic, Twitter, Appeals Locations: Colorado, United States, Clayton County

☆ This former Vietnam War POW spent 10 months in a 'tiger cage'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Instead he scrambled out of a porthole and found himself face-to-face with the North Vietnamese. A day that Wallingford recalled as clearly as if it were yesterday, as he recounted it to CNN at a recent reunion for surviving Vietnam War POWs in California. As a longtime veteran of combat in Vietnam, Smith also had battlefield wisdom to impart to his brothers in arms. But what can’t be disputed is that soon after those bombings took place, early in 1973, North Vietnam did finally agree to a peace deal. “He had the stones to go to Hanoi and bomb them for (12) days, which ended the war,” Wallingford said.

☆ Trans and nonbinary students have long had a place at women’s colleges. Here’s what they want you to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

And Smith – while it opens its doors to trans women and some nonbinary applicants – does not accept admissions applications from trans men. Avery is among the trans and nonbinary students who do not identify as women and yet have been attending women’s colleges for decades. Nanney noted that scholars have identified trans alumni of women’s colleges as early as the 1980s. “There’s a lot of resistance, especially from leadership, to use the term ‘historically women’s college’ because they think that connotes the idea that these colleges are no longer ‘women’s colleges,’” Nanney said. He now identifies as a trans man and contributes to the Wellesley Trans Archive, a student-run Tumblr page that documents stories of past and current trans students.

☆ British embassy guard who spied for Russia filmed "secret" letter to PM, London court told
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Morgan said Smith sent a letter containing "highly sensitive information about the British embassy and those who worked within it" to General Major Sergey Chukhrov, the Russian military attaché to Berlin, in November 2020. She added that the discovery of Smith's letter to Chukhrov prompted a joint investigation between British and German authorities. Covertly recorded footage was played in court showing Smith filming CCTV footage of "Dmitry" from within the embassy's security kiosk. Smith was later approached by "Irina", who told him that she needed assistance as someone had "passed information to the British and the information could be damaging to Russia". In hidden camera footage played to the court, "Irina" asks if Smith can help and he replies: "Well, like what?"

☆ Brad Pitt sells 60% of his Plan B production company to French media conglomerate Mediawan, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Brad Pitt is selling 60% of his production company, Plan B Entertainment, to French media conglomerate Mediawan in a deal that's set to be announced this weekend, according to people familiar with the matter. Neither Plan B nor Mediawan responded to requests for comment. For TV, Plan B's productions have included HBO's 2014 adaptation of "The Normal Heart," directed by Ryan Murphy, and Amazon Prime Video's 2021 miniseries "The Underground Railroad." Candle Media also acquired a minority stake in Westbrook Inc. — the production company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – earlier this year. The boutique investment bank Moelis led the sale for Plan B.

☆ Ravens vs Saints: Baltimore outclasses New Orleans, 27-13, on Monday Night Football
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Baltimore Ravens outclassed the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, winning 27-13 as Justin Houston had an evening to remember. The Ravens defense stifled Andy Dalton and a depleted Saints offense, with Houston finishing with two-and-a-half sacks and a key interception in the fourth quarter, as New Orleans was held to a season-low 243 yards. The star of the show was Houston though who, despite having doubts about his future during the offseason, has looked revived this season. Dalton and backup quarterback Jameis Winston look at tablets during the second quarter against the Ravens. We have a short week this week.”

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