DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

[1/3] Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his first campaign rally after announcing his candidacy for president in the 2024 election at an event in Waco, Texas, U.S., March 25, 2023. Trump has denied Daniels's claim, and his lawyer has accused Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, of extortion. To elevate that charge to a felony, prosecutors must prove that Trump falsified records to cover up a second crime. The New York Times and NBC News reported that Trump is expected to surrender next week, citing his lawyers. If Trump for some reason decided not to come in voluntarily, prosecutors could seek to have him extradited from Florida.

"They've done nothing but harass this guy," said Gregg Hough, chair of the Republican party in Belknap County, New Hampshire, predicting the prosecution will boost Trump support "to the moon" if it fails to deliver a convincing conviction. In a statement on Thursday, Trump called the indictment "Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," without providing evidence. John Feehery, a Republican strategist, described the Manhattan case as "silly" compared to the other probes hanging over Trump's campaign. At a campaign rally in Waco, Texas on Saturday, Trump likened the criminal investigations against him to a "Stalinist Russia horror show." Trump remains the front-runner in the 2024 Republican field, with the support of 44% of Republicans in a March Reuters/Ipsos, ahead of DeSantis' 30% support.

☆ Alvin Bragg: Who is the New York prosecutor who got Trump indicted?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Companies Trump Organization Inc FollowNEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's indictment has thrust into the spotlight Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor whose office convinced a New York grand jury to bring the first criminal charges ever against a former U.S. president. Bragg, 49, took office in January 2022, the first Black person elected Manhattan District Attorney. In 2021, Bragg won a crowded primary for the Democratic nomination to succeed Cyrus Vance as Manhattan District Attorney. "I've done this type of work under this type of scrutiny," Bragg said during the campaign, referring to the case against the Trump Foundation. Bragg came under criticism last year for declining to bring charges against Trump over his family real estate company's business practices.

☆ Rupert Murdoch’s media machine offers full-throated defense of Trump after grand jury indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It came despite the relationship between Murdoch and Trump being on the rocks as of late. And yet, Murdoch allowed the incendiary pro-Trump rhetoric to grip his network on Thursday night. If there was any doubt that Fox News might not offer a full-throated defense of Trump today, given the disgraced Republican’s shaky relationship with Murdoch, that has been erased. Even if he’s not convicted, they figure the indictment and spectacle will help him become the Republican nominee. The outlet’s website prominently featured a story saying Bragg “has a bad case of bias,” among other Trump-friendly articles.

☆ New York man gets 22 years in jail over killing of Chinese immigrant
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 31 (Reuters) - A New York City man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a hate crime in the 2021 killing of a Chinese immigrant has been sentenced to 22 years in prison, authorities said. Police surveillance video of the April 2021 attack showed Ma being knocked down from behind and kicked in the head multiple times by a lone man. Ma was a pastry chef who came to the U.S. with his wife two years before the attack, U.S. media have reported. Bragg's office said Powell admitted in his plea that he targeted Ma due to his Asian heritage. The attack on Ma came a month after a shooting spree at three Atlanta spas left eight people dead, including six Asian women.

☆ NY DA accuses Republicans of 'unlawful' interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsNY DA accuses Republicans of 'unlawful' interferencePostedThe District Attorney of New York County (Manhattan) Alvin Bragg accused Republicans of "unlawful" interference in his case against former President Donald Trump after his indictment this week. This report produced by Alex Cohen.

☆ Lindsey Graham says Trump should 'smash some windows' and 'punch a cop' on his way to being booked
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Lindsey Graham joked that Trump should "punch a cop" on his way to being booked in Manhattan. He said that Trump would then "avoid prosecution" and be "released IMMEDIATELY!" It was an apparent joke about DA Alvin Bragg's criminal justice-focused policies. "How can President Trump avoid prosecution in New York?," asked Graham on Twitter. "On the way to the DA's office on Tuesday, Trump should smash some windows, rob a few shops and punch a cop."

☆ Manhattan DA office blasts House Republicans for collaborating with Trump's efforts to paint his indictment as 'politically motivated'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Manhattan district attorney's office blasted House Republicans in a letter dated Friday. Three committee chairmen have subpoenaed DA Bragg over the office's investigation into Trump. "What neither Mr. Trump nor Congress may do is interfere with the ordinary course of proceedings in New York State," the DA's general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, added. In the aftermath of the indictment, he rallied his congressional Republican allies, who had been trying to investigate the Manhattan district attorney's office, for support, according to CNN. Friday's letter says any interference in an ongoing criminal investigation would be "unprecedented and illegitimate," and jeopardize Trump's privacy rights.

☆ Meet Juan Merchan, the Manhattan judge scheduled to oversee Donald Trump's criminal case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal case is Juan Merchan. "The Judge 'assigned' to my Witch Hunt Case, a 'Case' that has NEVER BEEN CHARGED BEFORE, HATES ME," Trump said. Trump is scheduled to appear before Merchan in Manhattan court on Tuesday afternoon. In 2009, he was appointed as a trial judge in Manhattan, where he's been since. The top court in the state — the equivalent of the US Supreme Court — is known as the New York Court of Appeals.

☆ New York prosecutors wanted Trump to surrender on Friday, but Trump's lawyers said the Secret Service needs more time to prepare his escort: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump's lawyers said the Secret Service needed time to prepare for his escort, per the outlet. The Secret Service is expected to continue protecting Trump throughout court proceedings, and will provide security even if he were to end up in prison, former agency officials previously told Insider. Ron DeSantis pledged on Thursday to "not assist in an extradition request" should Trump resist arrest. He pointed to "questionable circumstances at issue" with the indictment and accused Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg of having a "political agenda." Tacopina and a representative for the Manhattan district attorney's office did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

☆ Trump's grip on the GOP is so total that even his 2024 rivals, from DeSantis to Pence, are rallying to his side after the indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump's biggest current and potential 2024 foes rallied to his side on Thursday evening. A grand jury has moved to indict Trump on charges likely related to an alleged hush money scheme. Ron DeSantis, Trump's best-positioned potential rival, vowed not to cooperate with any extradition requests Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg may need to get Trump out of Florida. Insider previously reported how DeSantis has little power to thwart such a request as the Constitution requires interstate extradition. "It is a dark day for America when a former President is indicted on criminal charges," Hutchinson said in a statement.

☆ Trump plans to surrender in Manhattan, likely on Tuesday, says his lawyer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Oma Seddiq | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump will surrender to the Manhattan DA's office likely on Tuesday, according to his lawyer. Trump will fight the case all the way to trial if needed, his lawyer added, "if it's not dismissed." A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump on Thursday. A Manhattan grand jury voted on Thursday to indict Trump, likely over his role in a hush-money payment made ahead of the 2016 election to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The Manhattan district attorney's office announced on Thursday evening that it's coordinating Trump's surrender with his attorney.

☆ Michael Cohen says Trump will join him in the ranks of 'convicted felons' soon: 'See you on Tuesday, pal'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen gloated about Trump's indictment on CNN. "Since we're talking about convicted felons, see you on Tuesday, pal," Cohen said. Speaking to CNN, Cohen admitted that he was a "convicted perjurer," a "convicted felon," and a "disbarred lawyer." "I always called this the Al Capone theory," Cohen told CNN on Thursday. If that crime, Don, was enough for me to be charged, fined, convicted, and sent to prison, why am I any different from Donald Trump?"

☆ Former Manhattan prosecutor says DA 'damn well better win' after Trump indictment because the reputation of the office is at stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney's office said the office better win its case against Trump. He told Insider the "credibility and reputation" of the entire office was at stake. Mark Bederow, a high-profile criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor, told Insider the whole DA office's reputation depends on it. Bederow added that the Manhattan district attorney's office has "immersed itself in a presidential election" by bringing charges against a former president, something that has never happened in US history. Bederow previously told Insider that a case against Trump based solely on the hush-money payments was "likely to fail."

Judge Juan Merchan is being protected with increased security in the wake of Trump's NY indictment. In a Truth Social post Friday morning, Trump took a swipe at Merchan by name. Court officers at 100 Centre Street closed the 15th floor of the courthouse — where Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has his courtroom — to members of the press and public Friday. "The Judge "assigned" to my Witch Hunt Case, a "Case" that has NEVER BEEN CHARGED BEFORE, HATES ME," Trump wrote. Throughout the day on Friday, members of the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies moved in and around the courthouse.

☆ Trump attorney promises 'smooth surrender' after indictment as authorities make preparations for arraignment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Laura Italiano | Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An attorney for former President Trump told Insider that he will not resist attempts to arrest him. Trump is due to present himself to the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday. "It will be a smooth surrender," attorney Susan Necheles promised. On Friday, Bragg's office fired back at congressional critics, who have demanded the district attorney provide documents and testimony related to the investigation into Trump. "What neither Mr. Trump nor Congress may do is interfere with the ordinary course of proceedings in New York State," the letter added.

☆ DeSantis says Florida won't help extradite Trump even though it's required by US Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

DeSantis pledged Florida wouldn't be involved in an extradition to New York, given that Trump lives in Palm Beach. Ron DeSantis of Florida pledged Thursday that state officials would not help extradite former President Donald Trump from Florida to New York in a charged political attack on the prosecutor, following the first-ever indictment of a former president. The Florida extradition statute describes two ways of extraditing people from Florida to another state where they face criminal charges. The governor's only role is making sure the demand meets all the legal requirements before ordering the extradition, legal experts told Insider. He could also delegate and let another member of the Florida executive branch sign off on Hochul's extradition demand.

☆ Trump’s major legal woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Donald Trump was indicted on March 30. A timeline of the significant legal scrutiny Trump is under from state and federal investigators. A timeline that goes through the 5 major investigations that former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing. Bragg's office said it had contacted Trump's attorney to coordinate a surrender, which a court official said would likely occur next Tuesday. Trump's lawyers Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina said they will "vigorously fight" the charges.

☆ A gag order for Donald Trump is 'extremely likely' once he's before a judge, legal expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But once he's arraigned, it's "extremely likely" he'll be put under a gag order, one expert said. But the judge is likely to issue a gag order on the lawyers from both sides, along with Trump, he said. If there's a gag order, Levin said Trump will be "very limited" in what he's able to say, even if there may be proxies who speak for him. Former Indiana Attorney General Jeff Modisett said he also expected that a judge could narrowly craft a gag order that could survive an appeal. "Theoretically, a litigant who breaks a gag order could be thrown in jail," he said.

☆ Is Trump going to jail? Ex-president's odds of lockup for New York indictment are slim to none, legal experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"I do not see a scenario where Donald Trump spends one minute in jail," one defense attorney told Insider. It's more possible Trump could face a fine, community service, or probation, experts said. "I can't say for absolute 100% certainty there can't be jail because on the books, he can go to jail," said high-profile defense attorney and former Brooklyn prosecutor Arthur Aidala. Any kind of community service would likely be "private" so Trump couldn't be "out there cleaning a park or picking up garbage," Aidala said. Also, in 2018, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to criminal charges in Manhattan federal court in connection to the the hush-money payments.

☆ Fact Check-Statement by Stormy Daniels denying relations with Donald Trump dates to 2018
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A 2018 letter by adult film star Stormy Daniels denying sexual relations with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump is circulating online by users who believe it to be new in March 2023. Daniels confirmed that the letter dates to 2018 and has also said over the years she was coerced into writing the letter. One post (here) reads, “Trump just dropped a bombshell letter from Stormy Daniels debunking the case! One post reads, “Trump just shared a bombshell letter from Stormy Daniels debunking DA Bragg’s case! The letter in which adult film star Stormy Daniels denied having an affair with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump was published in January 2018.

☆ Trump Indictment Places Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg in Spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Corinne Ramey | James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg ’s pursuit of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump could provide a case for the history books while also testing one of New York City’s top prosecutors, a newcomer to political office who built his career in state and federal law enforcement. Mr. Bragg, 49 years old, took office in January of last year, becoming the first Black district attorney in Manhattan after winning the nomination in a crowded Democratic field and then triumphing in his first run for public office. He campaigned by touting his lengthy record in law enforcement, which includes stints with the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and the New York attorney general, as well as sharing his personal experiences living with crime and aggressive policing while growing up in Harlem during the 1980s crack epidemic.

☆ Grand Jury Votes to Indict Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Corinne Ramey | Joe Palazzolo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Former President Donald Trump has said he would remain in the 2024 presidential race irrespective of any criminal charges. Donald Trump was indicted Thursday for his role in paying hush-money to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election, marking the first time in American history that a former president has faced criminal charges. The grand jury returned the indictment of Mr. Trump after a vote on Thursday, kicking off a process in which the former president is expected to come to New York to face the charges. The indictment, sought by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg , isn’t public. In New York, judges routinely keep charges under wraps until defendants make their initial appearance in court.

☆ A Manhattan Grand Jury Has Indicted Donald Trump. What Happens Now?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Corinne Ramey | James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A Manhattan grand jury on Thursday voted to indict Donald Trump for his role in paying hush-money to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election. Mr. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has said the probe by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg , a Democrat, is politically motivated.

☆ Trump Grand Jury Digs Into Hush Money Paid to Second Woman
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Joe Palazzolo | Corinne Ramey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Manhattan prosecutors investigating Donald Trump’s role in paying hush-money to a porn star also have been examining a $150,000 payment to a former Playboy model who alleged that she had an affair with the former president, according to people familiar with the matter, raising the prospect that Mr. Trump could face charges connected to the silencing of both women. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg ’s office has been presenting a grand jury with evidence of Mr. Trump’s involvement in a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels since January. In those proceedings, the people said, Mr. Bragg’s prosecutors also have questioned grand-jury witnesses extensively about an earlier deal involving Karen McDougal, Playboy Magazine’s Playmate of the Year in 1998, who has said she began a 10-month relationship with Mr. Trump beginning in 2006.

Search resuls for: "Alvin"

25 mentions found