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[1/2] Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts after arriving at Aberdeen International Airport in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain May 1, 2023. Two of Carroll’s friends testified at trial that she told them about the rape after it occurred. The trial also featured testimony from two women who alleged Trump assaulted them many years ago under similar circumstances, as well as taped deposition testimony by Trump in which he denies ever meeting Carroll. Trump's lawyers told jurors that Carroll's narrative was implausible and said she had not provided evidence to back up her damages claims. That case has been bogged down in appeals over whether Trump was immune from being sued because he had been president when he spoke.

Persons: Donald Trump, Russell Cheyne, Jean Carroll, Carroll, Roberta Kaplan, Trump, Goodman, ”, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Jonathan Stempel, Bill Berkrot, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Republican, Aberdeen International Airport, REUTERS, Elle, CNN, District, Thomson Locations: Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, Manhattan, New York

☆ Is indicted Chinese billionaire tycoon Guo Wengui secretly bankrolling George Santos's bail?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

In recent months, he's become supportive of exiled Chinese tycoon and Republican patron Guo Wengui. There's a very strong chance that one person putting up the money — directly or indirectly — is the jailed exiled Chinese billionaire tycoon Guo Wengui. Even Ghislaine Maxwell and SBF didn't get this kind of secrecySantos certainly doesn't want us to know who these bond sponsors are. (An affinity for using multiple names, which are variations of each other, is something Guo shares with George Anthony Devolder Santos.) So, is Guo one of Santos's bail sponsors?

Persons: George Santos's, you'll, Santos, he's, Guo Wengui, —, George Santos, Ghislaine Maxwell, SBF didn't, Joanna Seybert, Jeremy A, Chase, Alexandra Settelmayer, Davis Wright Tremaine, Lokman Vural, Sam Bankman, Larry Kramer, Andreas Paepcke —, Lewis Kaplan, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Maxwell, Guo, Steve Bannon, Forbes, Miles Kwok, Carlo Allegri, Bannon, Miles Guo, George Anthony Devolder Santos, Cait Corrigan, Santos didn't, Joe Murray, Guo didn't, Santos doesn't Organizations: Service, Rep, Republican, New York Times, US, Federal, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Stanford University, REUTERS, New Federal, Chinese Communist Party, Law Foundation, Law Society, Santos, Justice Department Locations: New York, Long, Santos, Washington, DC, Central Islip, Central Islip , New York, Manhattan, United States, China, New Federal State of China, New Federal State

CompaniesCompanies Law Firms FTX Trading Limited FollowMay 31 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried is seeking documents from a law firm that advised his defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange, saying in a court filing that they could help him beat fraud charges. The former crypto mogul said the documents could prove that he relied on legal advice from Silicon Valley law firm Fenwick & West and did not believe he was breaking the law. Manhattan federal prosecutors must prove he knew his conduct was illegal. Bankman-Fried, the 31-year-old founder of now-defunct FTX Trading, has pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court to 13 counts of fraud, conspiracy, illegal campaign contributions and foreign bribery. Prosecutors allege Bankman-Fried stole billions of dollars in customer funds to plug losses in his hedge fund Alameda Research, which collapsed along with FTX last year after its risky cryptocurrency bets backfired.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Fenwick, FTX, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, ”, “ meritless ”, Palo, Jack Queen Organizations: West, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: Silicon Valley, Manhattan, Palo Alto , California, Bahamas

☆ Bankman-Fried hints at blame-the-lawyers defense in criminal case
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Alison Frankel | Thomson Reuters | Alison Frankel Has Covered High-Stakes Commercial Litigation As A Columnist For Reuters Since A Dartmouth College Graduate | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The plaintiffs' lawyer who filed that case, Kerry Miller of Fishman Haygood, told me on Wednesday that he plans to monitor the Bankman-Fried criminal case for any Fenwick & West documents that might boost the class allegations. Companies are typically reluctant to waive privilege for fear that their lawyers’ documents might be used in other cases. That assertion seems to hint that Bankman-Fried will claim that he can personally waive privilege over some Fenwick & West communications. The strongest defense case, Sandick said, would probably feature testimony from a Fenwick & West witness to bolster testimony from Bankman-Fried about his reliance on advice from FTX lawyers. But contradictory testimony from a law firm witness could undermine Bankman-Fried’s advice-of-counsel defense.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Gresser, Fenwick, Fried, West, FTX, “, ”, Bankman, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Kerry Miller, Fishman Haygood, Cohen, Sullivan, Cromwell, Harry Sandick, Patterson Belknap Webb, Tyler, ” Sandick, Sandick, ‘, ’ ”, Alison Frankel Organizations: Cohen, Fenwick & West, Alameda Research, Silvergate Bank, West, U.S, Prosecutors, Alameda, District, District Judge Lewis Kaplan of, Fenwick &, Manhattan U.S, Companies, Defense, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Fenwick, FTX, Alameda, Manhattan, California, District Judge Lewis Kaplan of Manhattan

NEW YORK, May 29 (Reuters) - Prosecutors urged a Manhattan federal court judge on Monday to deny a request by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried to dismiss criminal charges accusing him of stealing billions of dollars from customers to plug losses at his hedge fund. Bankman-Fried, the 31-year-old former cryptocurrency billionaire, has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fraud, conspiracy, making illegal campaign contributions and foreign bribery. In a filing late Monday, prosecutors described motions to dismiss the charges as "meritless", rebutting Bankman-Fried's argument that the indictment's allegations were insufficient and legally defective. He has also argued that some of the fraud charges he faces were based on a theory that the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated on May 11. Legal experts have said Bankman-Fried faces long odds of getting the charges tossed, because prosecutors can point to tangible money that his customers lost.

☆ Bankman-Fried faces long odds of tossing charges despite Supreme Court decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | 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: +4 min

But legal experts said Bankman-Fried's odds of getting the charges dismissed remain slim. Days later, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated that theory known as "right to control" when it overturned the conviction of a Buffalo construction executive accused of bid-rigging. The Court said the theory is "inconsistent with the structure and history of the federal fraud statutes." Officials say Bankman-Fried portrayed FTX as a safe, responsible platform in the volatile sector, even as he was diverting customer funds. Even if the bank fraud count is dismissed, Bankman-Fried would still face 12 other counts at his Oct. 2 trial.

☆ If Trump keeps insulting E. Jean Carroll, her lawyers say, she could keep suing him
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

E. Jean Carroll might sue Donald Trump for defamation a third time, her lawyer told the New York Times. A Manhattan jury on Tuesday found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996. "Everything's on the table, obviously, and we have to give serious consideration to it," Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan told the Times. Asked Thursday if he was concerned by the prospect of additional defamation lawsuits from Carroll following Trump's comments on CNN, Tacopina answered in the negative. "I am upset on the behalf of young men in America," Carroll told the Times.

☆ Explainer: What's next for Trump after civil rape verdict?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Here is a rundown of what could come next:WILL TRUMP WILL APPEAL THE VERDICT? Experts said Trump does not appear to have a strong appeal case, noting Kaplan's experience and that quality lawyering on both sides appeared to have ensured a fair trial. CAN TRUMP PAY THE $5 MILLION? WILL TRUMP PAY AND WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DOESN’T? Trump will likely obtain a court order stating that he does not have to pay Carroll while his appeal is pending.

The jury deliberated for just under three hours before rejecting Trump's denial that he assaulted Carroll. Trump has cited the Carroll trial in campaign fundraising emails as evidence of what he portrays as a Democratic plot to damage him politically. Jurors were tasked with deciding whether Trump raped, sexually abused or forcibly touched Carroll, any one of which would satisfy her claim of battery. Kaplan, Carroll's lawyer, told jurors during closing arguments on Monday that the 2005 video was proof that Trump had assaulted Carroll and other women. Previously Trump had said he could not have raped Carroll because she was "not my type."

Jurors were tasked with deciding whether Trump raped, sexually abused or forcibly touched Carroll, any one of which would satisfy her claim of battery. The trial featured testimony from two women who said Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago. Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, told jurors during closing arguments on Monday that the 2005 video was proof that Trump had assaulted Carroll and other women. Carroll testified that she bumped into Trump at Bergdorf's while he was shopping for a gift for another woman. Trump has cited the Carroll trial in campaign fundraising emails as evidence of what he portrays as a Democratic plot to damage him politically.

Prosecutors have until May 29 to respond to Bankman-Fried's dismissal request, and Kaplan will hear arguments on June 15. EXTRADITIONBankman-Fried has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but denies stealing funds, and has sought to distance himself from FTX's day-to-day operations. In pleading guilty, Singh admitted to making political donations in his own name that were funded in part by transfers from Alameda. "The campaign finance allegations reveal, yet again, the consequences of the Government's rush to indict Mr. Bankman-Fried," his lawyers wrote. Bankman-Fried has largely been confined to his parents' home since his December arrest in the Bahamas, where he had lived and where FTX was based.

FTX imploded after a flurry of customer withdrawals in the wake of reports it had commingled assets with Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fraud and conspiracy. He has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but denies stealing funds, and has sought to distance himself from FTX's day-to-day operations. Three onetime close associates - former Alameda co-chief executive Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh - have all pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Bankman-Fried has limited access to technology, after prosecutors warned he might tamper with witnesses.

☆ Six notable moments from Trump's civil rape trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"If you're normally a Bill and you're selected for the jury or even before, you can be John for a couple of days," Kaplan told prospective jurors. -Facing repeated questioning from Trump’s attorney about why she did not scream during the alleged assault, Carroll lost patience and raised her voice. -Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina claimed during his closing argument that Carroll’s lawsuit was a cash grab, publicity stunt and political mission rolled into one. "What E. Jean Carroll has done here is an affront to justice. She has abused this system by bringing a false claim for amongst other things money, status, political reasons," Tacopina said.

☆ Events leading up to Donald Trump sexual abuse verdict
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

2021-September 2022 - Carroll's lawsuit is largely on hold while Trump appeals Kaplan's decision. Oct. 12, 2022 - Trump repeats his denials of Carroll's claims. Oct. 19, 2022 - Trump is deposed in Carroll's first lawsuit. March 28, 2023 - Kaplan rejects Trump's request to throw out the defamation claim in Carroll's second lawsuit. April 25, 2023 - Trial gets under way.

[1/3] E. Jean Carroll, former U.S. President Donald Trump rape accuser, arrives at Manhattan Federal Court for the continuation of the civil case, in New York City, U.S., May 8, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' DelgadoSummary 'Grab 'em' remark undermines denials, accuser's lawyer saysJury due to deliberate in rape and defamation case on TuesdayNEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's lawyer on Monday called a rape and defamation case brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll against the former U.S. president an affront to the justice system. She has abused this system by bringing a false claim for amongst other things money, status, political reasons," Tacopina said. Trump accuses Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is not related to Carroll's lawyer, said he expected jurors to begin deliberating on Tuesday.

[1/3] E. Jean Carroll, former U.S. President Donald Trump rape accuser, arrives at Manhattan Federal Court for the continuation of the civil case, in New York City, U.S., May 8, 2023. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is not related to Carroll's lawyer, said he expected jurors to begin deliberating on Tuesday. "The truth is that E. Jean Carroll, a former cheerleader and Miss Indiana, was exactly Donald Trump's type," Kaplan, Carroll's lawyer, said during closing arguments. "Donald Trump here is a witness against himself." Jurors also heard from two other women who said Trump sexually assaulted them in separate alleged incidents decades ago.

[1/2] E. Jean Carroll, former U.S. President Donald Trump rape accuser, walks at Manhattan Federal Court following a civil case, in New York City, U.S., April 26, 2023. Trump has so far not attended the trial, which began on April 25, but told reporters in Ireland last Thursday that he "probably" would attend. Kaplan has scheduled closing arguments for Monday, with jurors due to begin deliberations after that. Jurors also heard from two other women who said Trump sexually assaulted them in separate alleged incidents decades ago. In a video deposition played for the jury last Wednesday, Trump denied raping Carroll.

☆ Trump will not testify in New York rape, defamation trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Luc Cohen | Hannah Lang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., April 27, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder(Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump will not testify at a civil trial to challenge claims made by writer E. Jean Carroll that he raped her in the 1990s and later defamed her, after letting a Sunday deadline pass without asking the court to appear. In response to a Reuters request for comment, Tacopina said in a statement what Trump’s legal team had already told the court on Thursday, that the former president would not testify in the case. In a video deposition played for the jury on Wednesday, Trump denied raping Carroll. “It’s the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” Trump said in the video, hunched over a conference table as Carroll’s lawyers presented documents to him.

☆ Closing arguments set for Monday morning in E. Jean Carroll civil rape trial against Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Attorneys for E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump are set to give closing arguments Monday morning in the battery and defamation trial against the former president in Manhattan federal court. Carroll’s legal team put on 11 witnesses in her case including the writer herself over seven trial days. “He has a right to testify which has been waived but if he has second thoughts, I’ll at least consider it and maybe we’ll see what happens,” Kaplan told the attorneys. Trump, who has not appeared in the courtroom at any point during the trial, told reporters in Ireland on Thursday he’ll “probably attend” the trial. No such motion was made by the deadline Sunday and his attorneys confirmed he will not attend the trial.

☆ Trump will not testify in E. Jean Carroll battery trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump will not testify in the E. Jean Carroll civil battery and defamation trial after his attorney did not inform the court of any change in strategy before a judge-imposed deadline of 5 p.m. Sunday. While attorneys for Carroll and Trump rested their respective cases in the trial in Manhattan federal court on Thursday evening, District Judge Lewis Kaplan had left a window for Trump to testify, even as the former president’s attorney said that would be highly unlikely. The judge said he had ordered the precautionary measure in light of Trump’s public comments suggesting he would make an appearance in court before the trial ended. Trump has denied all wrongdoing. Closing arguments in the case are set to get underway Monday.

☆ Trump's rape trial defense? His accuser and her friends have Trump Derangement Syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Donald Trump's lawyers have tried to undermine E. Jean Carroll, who accuses him of rape. Just moments later, Trump's lawyers rested their case as well, without presenting any evidence. Carroll and her friends, Trump's lawyers suggest, all have Trump Derangement Syndrome. According to Trump's lawyers, the whole lawsuit is a conspiracy schemed up by ardent Trump critic George Conway. AP Photo/John MinchilloTrump's attorney pointed out that Birnbach had said Trump and his allies had symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

☆ E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump Rest Cases in Civil Rape Trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Corinne Ramey | James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E. Jean Carroll watches as former President Donald Trump’s video deposition is played in court. Photo: JANE ROSENBERG/REUTERSLawyers for E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump rested their cases Thursday, clearing the way for a federal jury to deliberate next week whether the former president raped the writer in a Manhattan department-store dressing room in the 1990s. Mr. Trump’s lawyers previously said they wouldn’t call any witnesses in the case, and that the former president wouldn’t testify. On Thursday, after Mr. Trump’s lawyers rested their case, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said that if the former president changed his mind about testifying, he could make a motion to do so before 5 p.m. Sunday.

DOONBEG, Ireland, May 4 (Reuters) - Donald Trump said on Thursday he will "probably" attend an ongoing civil trial in New York where he is accused of rape and defamation, repeating his denials of the allegations during a visit to his Irish golf resort. Trump also denied the accusation in a deposition video played on Wednesday for a Manhattan federal jury, as Trump sought to defend himself without testifying in person. The trial has so far run for six days and is expected to extend into next week. Denying the allegations in his deposition video, Trump accused Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. Reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/5] Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts after arriving at Aberdeen International Airport in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Russell CheyneMay 3 (Reuters) - Donald Trump denied raping writer E. Jean Carroll in a deposition video played on Wednesday for a Manhattan federal jury, as the former U.S. president sought to defend himself in a civil trial without testifying in person. “It’s the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” Trump said in the video, hunched over a conference table as Carroll’s lawyers presented documents to him. "I hear we're doing very well in New York," Trump said on Wednesday when asked why he was not in court. The trial has also featured testimony from two women who say Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago.

[1/3] Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts after arriving at Aberdeen International Airport in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain May 1, 2023. Trump, front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said in the October 2022 deposition that the alleged rape in the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City decades ago didn’t happen. “It’s the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” Trump said in the video, hunched over a conference table as Carroll’s lawyers presented documents to him. The trial has also featured testimony from two women who say Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago. Another woman, Jessica Leeds, testified on Tuesday that Trump kissed her, groped her and put his hand up her skirt on a flight in 1979.

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