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In Florida, meanwhile, a federal judge could push back Trump’s trial date in the classified documents case. Special Counsel Jack Smith and attorneys for Trump proposed moving the trial later into the summer in court filings Thursday. For Friday’s hearing in the documents case, scheduled for 10 a.m. Smith has highlighted a myriad of threats made against individuals connected to the documents case, including witnesses, government employees, an FBI agent involved in the initial Mar-a-Lago search and two federal judges, including Cannon herself. Attorneys for Trump and his allies are expected to argue that Wade and Willis lied under oath about when their relationship started.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Fani Willis, Aileen Cannon, Joe Biden’s, Jack Smith, Smith, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliviera, De Oliviera’s, Cannon, —, Biden, – Nauta, De Oliveira, –, Willis, Scott McAfee, Nathan Wade, Wade, McAfee, Charles Mittelstadt, Terrence Bradley, Bradley, Ashleigh Merchant, Merchant Organizations: CNN, Trump —, White, National Security Council, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: Georgia, Florida, Fulton County, California, Belize, Caribbean

Hunter Biden’s appearance Wednesday represents the most significant testimony to date for the two congressional committees leading the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, a probe that’s heavily focused on Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. But it comes as a key allegation that launched the impeachment inquiry has been discredited. Sources familiar with terms negotiated between Hunter Biden’s team and congressional Republicans told CNN that Wednesday’s deposition will have several unique features that are different from the other interviews the committees have conducted to date. While Hunter Biden’s lawyers insisted that he would only testify publicly, Comer insisted that a public hearing would follow the private deposition. Republicans repeatedly pointed to Smirnov’s allegations as a reason for opening the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden last fall.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s, –, Hunter, Biden, Hunter Biden’s, James Comer’s, Comer, Joe Biden, Department’s, Alexander Smirnov, Jim Jordan, Jordan, Burisma, wouldn’t, Abbe Lowell, Lowell Organizations: Capitol, CNN, FBI, Republicans, GOP, Justice Department Locations: Washington

☆ Many Suicides in Prisons Could Have Been Averted, Justice Dept. Watchdog Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Dozens of inmates, including the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, have died needlessly in federal prisons as a result of lax supervision, access to contraband and poor monitoring of at-risk inmates, according to a report released on Thursday by the Justice Department’s watchdog. The Bureau of Prisons, responsible for about 155,000 inmates, routinely subjects prisoners to conditions that put them at heightened risk of self-harm, drug overdoses, accidents and violence, the department’s inspector general found after analyzing 344 deaths from 2013 to 2021 that had not been caused by illnesses. More than half of those deaths were suicides, and many of them could have been prevented if inmates had received appropriate mental health assessments or been housed with other prisoners in accordance with departmental guidelines instead of being left alone, like Mr. Epstein, the report concluded. The report “identified several operational and managerial deficiencies” that violated standing bureau policies, said Michael E. Horowitz, the inspector general, whose investigators previously concluded that Mr. Epstein’s death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019 was the result of gross negligence and inadequate staffing.

Persons: Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Michael E, Horowitz, Epstein’s Organizations: Justice, of Prisons, Metropolitan Correctional Center

The case heads to court separately from another federal lawsuit filed in October by LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates over the aggravated prostitution law. The Republican-carried legislation would only remove the requirement that those convicted of aggravated prostitution must register as a violent sex offender. Court documents in the other federal lawsuit say that more than 80 people are registered for aggravated prostitution in Tennessee. Because she had to register as a sex offender, the woman has experienced periods of homelessness while struggling to find safe housing compliant with sex-registry requirements. Tennessee law also bars her from changing her legal name to match her gender identity, the lawsuit states.

Persons: ”, Kristen Clarke, general's Organizations: U.S . Justice, Justice Department, Republican, Justice Department’s Civil Rights, for Disease Control, The Justice Department Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Shelby County, Memphis

CNN —In a fight over keeping the identity of witnesses protected in the criminal document mishandling case against Donald Trump, special counsel Jack Smith this week detailed myriad threats against prosecutors, judges and other witnesses. One threat against a witness has prompted a federal investigation, the special counsel’s office wrote in court filings. Possible witnesses against Trump are “routinely” being threatened in a way that could intimidate them from participating in the case, they added. Trump’s lawyers have sought to make public the witness names and related information in the case, since they have included them in court filings. “Their objective is plain—to delay trial as long as possible,” prosecutors wrote in a filing Thursday in the case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Witnesses, ”, “, Aileen Cannon, Cannon, Trump, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, ‘, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, FBI, Department, ”, National Archives, Records Administration, Department of Energy, ‘ Trump Locations: Florida, Mar

☆ Biden officials confront limits of federal response in exercise preparing for 2024 election threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Carolyn Kaster/AP/FileUS national security officials have to weigh whether publicly calling attention to disinformation might inadvertently amplify the very message they’re trying to bat down. In both scenarios, federal officials favored a muted public response, largely choosing to let state and local governments take the lead. State and local officials run elections and are more trusted voices in their communities, but how can federal officials act decisively to support them? “It’s a trick box,” said Adam Hickey, who worked on election security issues for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “[W]e prioritize tabletop exercises that integrate the range of cyber, physical, and operational threats election officials may encounter,” Conley said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: “, ”, —, Carolyn Kaster, there’s, Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden, deepfakes, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Kevin Dietsch, Francisco Aguilar, ” Aguilar, Donald Trump’s, Adam Hickey, Hickey, Cait Conley, DHS’s, ” Conley, –, ” CNN’s Evan Perez, Natasha Bertrand, Donie O’Sullivan, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Biden White, Jeffersonville Masonic, New Hampshire, Foreign Ministry, ”, Senate, Committee, White, Senate Intelligence, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Trump, Capitol, Justice Department’s National Security, “, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, National Security Council, US Army, DHS’s Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: China, Jeffersonville, Jeffersonville , Ohio, American, Woodside , California, Nevada, Russia, Iran, Russian, Iranian

CNN —US Capitol Police have received a subpoena in the grand jury investigation into Rep. Cori Bush, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. FEC filings show that from January 19, 2023, through April 3, 2023, Bush’s campaign paid Merritts $15,000 for “security services” in six payments of $2,500. CNN asked Bush’s campaign if either she or Merritts were interviewed by the FBI, and if the campaign could provide timesheets for Merritts. “I also believe in transparency which is why I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending on security services. She maintained she has not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services and that she complied with House rules.

Persons: Cori Bush, Bush, Bush hasn’t, Cortney Merritts, Merritts, Bush’s, they’re, “, ” Bush Organizations: CNN, US Capitol Police, Missouri Democrat, Capitol Police, Federal, Security, Foundation, Accountability, Civic Trust, FBI, Merritts, Department of Justice Locations: Washington ,, St, Louis , Missouri

“It is necessary to conduct this operation unilaterally and without notifying Venezuelan officials,” reads the 15-page 2018 memo expanding “Operation Money Badger,” an investigation that authorities say targeted dozens of people, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Within weeks, senior DEA officials plotted to deploy at least three undercover informants to surreptitiously record top officials suspected of converting Venezuela into a narco state. And “to limit or mitigate the exposure of the unilateral activities,” the document advised DEA officials to protect their informants and curtail in-person meetings with targets. I think they figured they had nothing to lose.”RELEASED BY ACCIDENTThe Operation Money Badger memo was never intended to be made public. The DEA memo authorized three informants to secretly record undercover meetings with the targets.

Persons: –, ”, Nicolás Maduro, Maduro’s, Alex Saab, Wes Tabor, “ We’re, Maduro, “, Biden, ” Maduro, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, ” —, Evan Criddle, William & Mary, there’s, Mike Vigil, Manny Recio, John Costanzo Jr, Costanzo, ” Michael Nadler, Washington –, launderer, Jose Vielma, Hugo Chávez, Vielma’s, Luis Motta, Vielma, Motta, Motta’s, Zach Margulis, Hugo Carvajal, Jennifer Farrar Organizations: MIAMI, The Associated Press, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, Justice, AP, CIA, State, Justice Department, U.S, Attorney’s, Democratic, Supreme, William &, Saab, Miami Field Division’s, IRS Locations: Venezuela, United States, U.S, America, Venezuelan, Miami, Manhattan, Russia, China, OPEC, Mexico, Virginia, “, Colombian, New York, Houston, Washington, Investigative@ap.org

☆ Man who stole and leaked Trump tax records sentenced to 5 years in prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The man who stole and leaked former President Donald Trump and thousands of other’s tax records has been sentenced to five years in prison. In October, Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosures of income tax returns. According to his plea agreement, he stole Trump’s tax returns along with the tax data of “thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people,” while working for a consulting firm with contracts with the Internal Revenue Service. Reyes was also critical of the Justice Department’s decision to only bring one count against Littlejohn. “I acted out of a sincere misguided belief,” Littlejohn said in court Monday, adding that he was serving the country and that people had a right to the tax information.

Persons: Donald Trump, Charles Littlejohn, Littlejohn, Judge Ana Reyes, ” Reyes, “, …, ”, Prosecutors, Reyes, Department’s, ” Littlejohn Organizations: CNN, Internal Revenue Service, US, Capitol, Apple, Prosecutors Locations: United States

☆ Former Contractor Who Leaked Trump’s Tax Returns Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Eileen Sullivan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A former Internal Revenue Service contractor accused of leaking the tax documents of Donald J. Trump and other wealthy Americans was sentenced on Monday to five years in prison. The former contractor, Charles Littlejohn, known as Chaz, worked for the tax agency from 2017 to 2021, when he stole the tax records of thousands of the country’s wealthiest people, including Mr. Trump, prosecutors said. Mr. Littlejohn then provided the information to The New York Times and ProPublica. “Today’s sentence sends a strong message that those who violate laws intended to protect sensitive tax information will face significant punishment,” Nicole M. Argentieri, the acting assistant attorney general who oversees the Justice Department’s criminal division, said in a statement. Prosecutors said the harm from Mr. Littlejohn’s disclosures were “so extensive and ongoing that it is impossible to quantify.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Charles Littlejohn, Chaz, Littlejohn, Prosecutors, Mr, ” Nicole M Organizations: Internal Revenue, New York Times, ProPublica, Justice

☆ Justice Department settlement concludes Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed state employees
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Justice Department concluded Friday that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed state employees, supporting the findings of a previous state civil review of allegations against the former governor. The department reached an agreement with the New York State Executive Chamber resolving the claims of sexual harassment and retaliation against the Democratic former governor, according to a release from the Justice Department on Friday. “Governor Cuomo repeatedly subjected these female employees to unwelcome, non-consensual sexual contact; ogling; unwelcome sexual comments; gender-based nicknames; comments on their physical appearances; and/or preferential treatment based on their physical appearances,” the Justice Department found. In August 2021, the New York attorney general’s office found that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women and created a “hostile” work environment for women.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Cuomo, Letitia James ’, Governor Cuomo, Cuomo’s, “, Rita Glavin, Cuomo “, NYS Attorney General’s, ” Rich Azzopardi, Department’s, Mariann Wang, ”, ” Wang, Debra Katz, Charlotte Bennett, Kathy Hochul, Hochul, Kristen Clarke Organizations: CNN, The Justice Department, New York Gov, New York, Chamber, Democratic, Justice Department, New, Justice, NYS Attorney Locations: New York

☆ Exclusive: House ethics probe of Gaetz seeks information from DOJ and woman who allegedly had sex with congressman as a minor
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Paula Reid | Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz has reached out to the woman whom the congressman allegedly had sexual relations with when she was a 17-year-old minor, according to a source familiar with the committee’s work. The federal probe, which also included allegations he had sex with a minor, concluded in 2023 with no charges brought against the congressman. The increased activity under Republican leadership is notable given the committee probe was started by House Democrats in 2021. But McCarthy has repeatedly denounced those accusations and has said Gaetz worked to oust the former speaker because of the ethics probe. The probe expanded over the years before the Justice Department officially decided last year not to charge the congressman.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, ” Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, “, Norman Eisen, Donald Trump’s, ” Eisen, Eisen, ”, Bill Barr, Joel Greenberg, Department’s, won’t Organizations: GOP, Florida Republican, Justice Department, CNN, Justice, Republican, House Democrats, Department of Justice, Democrats, DOJ, Trump, Gaetz Locations: Florida, California

☆ Analyst: Spirit Airlines could be forced out of business after JetBlue deal is blocked
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Spirit Airlines could end up in bankruptcy and be forced out of business because of a federal court decision to block a proposed sale to JetBlue Airways, according to a note from an airline analyst. “We believe Spirit will first look for an alternative buyer, but another airline may get the same pushback [from antitrust regulators. Its fares prompted major airlines to offer a certain number of no-frills “basic economy” seats on their planes. It also prompted concerns that its purchase by JetBlue would lead to higher fares across the industry — concerns which resulted in the Justice Department’s antitrust case that blocked the deal. “While we are disappointed with this [court decision] outcome, we are confident in our strengths and strategy,” said a company statement sent to CNN.

Persons: Helane Becker, Cowen, “, ”, Becker, General Merrick Garland, Pete Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Fitch, it’s, William Young Organizations: New, New York CNN — Spirit, JetBlue Airways, JetBlue, Transportation, Refinitiv, JPMorgan Chase, CNN, Airbus, Boeing, lessors, Federal, Spirit Locations: New York, Spirit’s, U.S

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's decades-old aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday after an investigation, warning that the state could face a lawsuit if officials don't immediately cease enforcement. LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates have long criticized the measure as discriminatory, making it almost impossible to find housing and employment due to the restrictions for violent sex offenders. The DOJ letter details several of the struggles of those with aggravated prostitution convictions. A lifetime sex offender registration can stop people from visiting with their grandchildren, revoke job offers, and severely limit housing options. Plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit seeking to block the aggravated prostitution law in October said the DOJ's letter only further supports their efforts.

Persons: —, ”, Bill Lee, “, Kristen Clarke, Jonathan Skrmetti, David Rausch, Steven Mulroy, it's, Mulroy, ” Brandon James Smith, Skrmetti, “ OUTMemphis, Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis, Adrian Sainz Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Law Center, Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, of, DOJ, Associated Press Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Shelby County, Memphis, Memphis , Tennessee

☆ The Chicken Tycoons vs. the Antitrust Hawks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( H. Claire Brown | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Khan came to prominence in 2017 after she published a Yale Law Review article called “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox.” Her article pointed out that while Amazon’s business was extraordinarily customer-friendly, the company’s dominance enabled it to control increasingly large swaths of the ecosystem in which it operated. Shouldn’t the government be able to limit the impacts of Amazon’s market power on vendors and workers even if its consumers aren’t unhappy? Like the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission also has the power to police antitrust violations. Among these marquee names and splashy allegations, chicken companies stand out for the sheer volume and variety of antitrust lawsuits filed against them. Plaintiffs included pretty much everyone the poultry processors did business with — their customers, their farmers, their workers and their shareholders.

Persons: Wu, Khan, ” Wu, Biden, Simon, Simon & Schuster Organizations: Yale, Justice Department’s, Google, Justice Department, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Antitrust Division, Penguin Random, Simon &, Federal Trade Commission, Meta, Microsoft, Activision, Pilgrim’s Locations: Maine

The Democratic president's son slammed the inquiry as a “fishing expedition” and refused to give closed-door testimony but said he would "answer any pertinent and relevant question” in front of the House Oversight Committee next month, setting up a potential high-stakes face-off. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, subpoenaed Hunter Biden in early November in the inquiry's most aggressive step yet and one that tests the reach of congressional oversight powers. So far, Republicans have failed to uncover evidence directly implicating President Biden in any wrongdoing. The subpoena demanded Hunter Biden appear before the Oversight Committee for a deposition by mid-December. Hunter Biden is now charged with three firearms felonies related to the 2018 purchase of a gun during a period he has acknowledged being addicted to drugs.

Persons: — Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, James Comer of, Hunter Biden, Biden, James Biden, Rob Walker, Hunter, Abbe Lowell, ” Lowell, Richard Sauber, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Republicans, Biden, Democrats, GOP, Congressional, Associated Press Locations: James Comer of Kentucky, Washington, California

☆ Israel-Hamas War Hamas and Israel Open to Extension of Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Isabel Kershner | Vivian Yee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Medics attended to the victims as police officers secured the scene of the shooting in Burlington. The families of the men identified them in a statement as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed. Mr. Awartani studies at Brown University, Mr. Abdalhamid at Haverford College in Pennsylvania and Mr. Ahmed at Trinity College in Connecticut. Mr. Ahmed was shot in the chest, and Mr. Abdalhamid had minor injuries, according to a statement from the families of the victims. “Why would anyone shoot kids who were wearing Palestinian kaffiyeh?” Marwan Awartani said in an interview.

Persons: Jason J, Eaton, Eaton’s, Jon Murad, Miro Weinberger, Murad, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan, Tahseen Ahmed, Abdalhamid, Ahmed, Awartani’s, Marwan Awartani, Hisham, Christina H, Paxson, ” Marwan Awartani, Nikolas P, Kerest, Husam Zomlot, Biden, Bernie Sanders, Vermont, ” Livia Albeck, Ripka Organizations: Police, University of Vermont, Burlington, ”, Burlington police, Ramallah Friends School, West Bank, Brown University, Mr, Haverford College, Trinity College in, Palestinian Authority, District of, Justice Department’s Civil, Division, Islamic Relations, Defamation League, Twitter Locations: Burlington, Burlington , Vt, Ramallah, Pennsylvania, Trinity College in Connecticut, U.S, District of Vermont, Israel, Palestinian, United Kingdom, Illinois, Burlington , VT

“We have heard that he is expected to survive,” Brian Evans, spokesperson for the Minnesota attorney general’s office, told The Associated Press about Chauvin. Political Cartoons View All 1265 Images"I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence. The Bureau of Prisons said no employees at the Tucson facility were injured in the attack and that the FBI was notified. In Minnesota, Chauvin was mainly kept in solitary confinement “largely for his own protection,” Nelson wrote in court papers last year. Chauvin’s stabbing comes as the federal Bureau of Prisons has faced increased scrutiny in recent years following wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein’s jail suicide in 2019.

Persons: — Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, general's, ” Brian Evans, Chauvin, Derek Chauvin, Keith Ellison, Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s, “ I’m, ” Terrence Floyd, Larry Nassar, Eric Nelson, he’d, ” Nelson, Floyd, Black, Jeffrey Epstein’s, It's, “ Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski’s, shouldn’t, Colette Peters, Peters, Amy Forliti, Michael Balsamo Organizations: Federal Correctional Institution, Associated Press, U.S . Bureau of Prisons, Prisons, ” Prosecutors, FBI, of Prisons, Justice Department’s, Judiciary Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Minneapolis, Arizona, Minnesota, Tucson, Florida, New York

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday. It is also the second major incident at the Tucson federal prison in a little over a year. Chauvin’s stabbing comes as the federal Bureau of Prisons has faced increased scrutiny in recent years following wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein’s jail suicide in 2019.

Persons: Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, Larry Nassar, shouldn’t, Eric Nelson, he’d, Chauvin, ” Nelson, Floyd, Black, Jeffrey Epstein’s, It's, “ Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski’s, Colette Peters, Peters, Amy Forliti, Michael Balsamo, Michael Organizations: Associated Press, Federal Correctional Institution, Prisons, FCI Tucson, FBI, of Prisons, Justice Department’s, Judiciary, Press Locations: Minneapolis, Arizona, Tucson, Florida, Minnesota, New York, Michael Sisak, x.com

Absentee ballots are mailed in and are the only auditable paper trail under Louisiana’s current voting system. “(Election officials) test the machines beforehand and they test the machines afterwards, so it’s not blind faith going into this. ... You’re basically getting a report on the tabulation again.”Louisiana uses paperless touch screen voting machines bought in 2005. “Can you imagine what would have happened in Georgia if they had still had digital voting machines in 2020?” Becker asked. Secretary of State-elect Nancy Landry, a Republican who takes office in January, said implementing a new voting system is a top priority.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, ” John Nickelson, Henry Whitehorn, Mike Spence, Spence, it’s, ” David Becker, “, You’re, Kyle Ardoin, Wisconsin —, Donald Trump, ” Becker, Nancy Landry Organizations: —, Republican, Caddo Parish, Democrat, Justice Department’s Civil, Division, Center, Election Innovation, Research, State Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Caddo, Arizona , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Donald Trump . Georgia

☆ Trump to test the limits of the First Amendment at high-stakes hearing over constitutionality of gag order
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The gag order from District Judge Tanya Chutkan restricts Trump’s ability to publicly target court personnel, potential witnesses, special counsel Jack Smith and his staff. The appeals court has temporarily frozen the gag order as Trump continues to contest it. “The Gag Order violates President Trump’s most fundamental First Amendment rights. The former president was recently under a gag order in the $250 million New York state civil fraud case. “The entire Gag Order rests on an unconstitutional ‘heckler’s veto’ theory, so it is overbroad in its entirety.”Trump’s arguments were not persuasive when he tried to have Chutkan pause the gag order while his appeal unfolded.

Persons: Donald Trump, Tanya Chutkan, Jack Smith, Trump, Trump’s, ”, Catherine Ross, ” Ross, –, Patricia Millett, Cornelia Pillard, Barack Obama, Brad Garcia, Joe Biden –, Smith, Chutkan, “ Trump, Millett, Judge Pillard –, Evan Corcoran, Corcoran Organizations: CNN, US DC Circuit, Prosecutors, George Washington University Law School, Trump, DC Circuit, Supreme, ” Prosecutors, American Civil Liberties Union, Court Locations: Washington, York, Mar

The trial is the first of two antitrust cases brought by the Justice Department against Google. Photo: Hasan Bratic/Zuma PressWASHINGTON—The historic antitrust case against Google will soon be in the hands of a judge who says he has no idea how he will rule. It will be many months before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta , who oversaw the nonjury trial in Washington, rules on the question at the heart of the Justice Department’s case: Did Alphabet -owned Google, which answers about 90% of all internet search queries worldwide, illegally cement its monopoly?

Persons: Hasan Bratic, Zuma Press WASHINGTON, Judge Amit Mehta Organizations: Justice Department, Google, Zuma Press, U.S Locations: Washington

☆ What Sam Bankman-Fried’s Conviction Says About the Fight Against Financial Fraud - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ankush Khardori | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Under the Biden administration, Mr. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco have made several overlapping efforts in this area. Mr. Bankman-Fried’s case was highly unusual, in large part because he became remarkably prominent in political circles and among certain members of the media. We can hire more qualified investigators and prosecutors in Washington to pursue these cases. Policy and organizational changes within the Justice Department may help a bit, but just as important (if not far more so), we also need to ensure that U.S. attorney’s offices and F.B.I. Ideally, Congress would do its part by significantly increasing funding for hiring more prosecutors, investigators and support staffs, and by committing to this effort as a yearslong national priority.

Persons: Biden, Garland, Lisa Monaco, Bankman Organizations: Justice Department Locations: Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles

The case targeting Google's Play Store is being brought by Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, which lost in a similar 2021 trial focused on many of the same issues in Apple's iPhone app store. Match is receiving $40 million and adopting Google's “user choice billing" system in its settlement. The terms of the resolution with the state attorneys general is expected to be revealed during Google's trial with Epic. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney skewered the “user choice billing” option as a sham in a social media post vowing to fight Google in court. Wilson White, Google's vice president of government affairs and public policy, accused Epic of trying to get “something for nothing” in a blog post.

Persons: District Judge James Donato, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Google’s, U.S . Justice Department’s, Donato, Google's, Tim Sweeney skewered, Sweeney, Wilson White, White, ” Organizations: FRANCISCO, Google, Epic Games, Apple, U.S, Supreme, Android, District, Inc, Washington D.C, U.S ., Match Group Locations: San Francisco federal, U.S, Washington

☆ Florida hearing may determine if Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents trial is delayed until after election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Katelyn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly complained to the judge in the Mar-a-Lago criminal document-mishandling case that they haven’t had proper access to classified evidence in the case as they prepare for a trial next May. Cannon, a Trump appointee, has so far given Trump’s team some of the leeway they’ve asked for in the documents investigation. The defense teams have access to more than 1 million pages of information in the case, according to court filings. In a filing last week, prosecutors told the judge Trump’s team has cried wolf about their access to evidence in the case, including classified records. Trump’s legal team has been reviewing and discussing classified evidence in Miami, most recently on Tuesday, when the former president joined his lawyers in the SCIF during the afternoon, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Persons: Donald Trump, Aileen Cannon, Cannon, ” “, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Trump, Department’s “, it’s, De Oliveira, They’ve Organizations: Pierce , Florida CNN, Trump, Nauta Locations: Pierce , Florida, Florida, Ft . Pierce , Florida, United States, Miami

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