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☆ The QAnon Shaman's new roommates after he got out of jail had no idea who he was, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jacob Chansley, a January 6 rioter known as the "QAnon Shaman," has been released from prison early. Chansley is carrying out the rest of his prison sentence in a halfway house in Arizona. His new roommates told The New York Post on Sunday they had no idea who he was. A prison spokesperson told Insider's Natalie Musumeci that he was transferred from Arizona's Federal Correctional Institution Safford to "community confinement" overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Phoenix Residential Reentry Management Office last week. Chansley's projected release date from any kind of federal custody is May 25, the spokesperson added.

An indictment is the formal notification that a grand jury has brought charges against a defendant. A grand jury is convened in some criminal cases to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring a defendant to trial. "An indictment is a finding by a grand jury that there is reasonable cause to believe the target committed a crime," he said. When that's done, the grand jury will deliberate and then vote on which — if any — charges they will indict. In New York, where Trump was indicted, 16 out of an originally selected 23 grand jurors must be present for a voting quorum, according to the state grand juror's handbook.

☆ 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.

☆ 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Chansley was released early from prison, and a former prosecutor said it's totally normal to have sentences reduced
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

January 6 rioter Jacob Chansley, known as the "QAnon Shaman," has been released from prison early. Chansley was moved to a halfway house in Arizona, his trial lawyer told Insider. Chansley was let out of prison after serving 27 months of his 41-month sentence. Chansley's projected release date from any kind of federal custody is May 25, the Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said. Former New York prosecutor Mark Bederow told Insider that it is "common" for federal inmates to get their sentences lessened under the First Step Act, which was passed in 2018.

☆ 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."

☆ Manhattan DA lawyers feared Stormy Daniels case against Trump was too weak to bring without other criminal charges, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Manhattan DA lawyers worried about indicting Trump over "hush money" payments to Stormy Daniels. In order to convict Trump on felony charges, prosecutors would need to prove Trump intended to commit or wanted to conceal a separate crime through the payments. But a judge might believe the Manhattan district attorney's office is overreaching by enforcing federal law. If the case gets to a jury, jurors may wonder why federal prosecutors didn't bring charges against Trump, or they might not believe Cohen's testimony. A representative for the Manhattan district attorney's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Former prosecutors previously told Insider that the district attorney does have the power to slow-walk the indictment and that the grand jury may have already voted. The grand jury investigation has already taken longer than expected. After Cohen's testimony, Bragg's office extended an offer for Trump to testify, indicating it was nearly finished presenting evidence to the grand jury. Trump's attorneys sent Robert Costello, an attorney who told grand jurors on March 20 that Cohen was a liar and couldn't be trusted. Since then, the grand jury has moved in fits and starts.

☆ The Manhattan DA's office investigating Trump has been 'inundated' with hundreds of angry calls spewing racial slurs and parroting Trump's rhetoric
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Manhattan attorney's office investigating Donald Trump has been "inundated" with calls from angry supporters. The callers have been parroting Trump's rhetoric and hurling racial slurs against DA Alvin Bragg. In recent days, the Manhattan DA's office has been the victim of several death threats. In a since-deleted post, Trump also shared a photo of himself holding a baseball bat, ready to swing, next to Bragg. "I'm not his social media consultant," Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina told NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

☆ There's 'no way in hell' Trump's bombastic approach to his potential indictment would help him in court: defense attorney
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

There's "no way" Trump's reaction to his possible indictment will help him, defense attorneys said. As a potential indictment looms, Trump has lashed out on social media, calling for protests. But there's no way that Trump's bombastic approach to his possible indictment over allegations of a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels would help him in a courtroom, criminal defense attorneys not connected to the case told Insider. Bederow, a former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney's office, called Trump's recent behavior toward his potential indictment "a terrible look" that demonstrates "instability" and "poor judgment." "There's no way Trump begging to be perp-walked and handcuffed and demanding that his supporters protest is helping" a potential criminal case, Bederow said.

☆ Tucker Carlson says he heard from Donald Trump over texts that revealed the Fox News host hated him 'passionately'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tucker Carlson said a "wounded" Donald Trump called him after his "hate" texts were made public. "I hate him passionately," the Fox News host texted of Trump, according to recent court filings. Carlson added, "And I said this to Trump when he called me, you know, all wounded about those texts. On the day of the deadly US Capitol riot, Carlson called Trump a "demonic force" in a text message to his producer, according to court documents. "At the time, I was just blaming the Trump campaign, and I was livid."

☆ DeSantis administration sent undercover agents to an Orlando drag show and they found nothing wrong with it. The state is still trying to punish the venue.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Undercover agents were sent by the DeSantis administration to spy on a drag show, the Miami Herald reported. Still, Florida is moving ahead with a complaint against the venue to strip its liquor license. Ron DeSantis to spy on an Orlando drag show — and they found nothing "lewd" about it, according to the Miami Herald. A Florida drag queen told Insider before the Miami Herald report was published that they were concerned about rumors of undercover state agents showing up at performances. The DeSantis administration recently targeted the Hyatt Regency Miami after one of its facilities hosted "A Drag Queen Christmas" with minors present in the audience.

☆ The ex-chief of staff for Maryland's former governor went missing the day of his criminal trial. US Marshals are still searching for him.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hogan's former chief of staff, Roy McGrath, failed to show up for his federal fraud trial. McGrath, a Florida resident, faces eight federal counts, including wire fraud, theft in programs receiving federal funds, and falsification of records. The charges against McGrath stem from his time serving as the executive director of the Maryland Environmental Service. He led the quasi-government agency before he was brought on as Hogan's chief of staff in June 2020. McGrath resigned as chief of staff to Hogan in August 2020.

☆ A Capitol riot suspect tricked a judge into letting him travel and then schmoozed with other Jan. 6 defendants at a conference, feds say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Capitol riot suspect tricked a court into allowing him to attend CPAC, prosecutors allege. The suspect asked the court if he could travel to Washington, DC to attend another Jan. 6 trial. Instead, he spent more than 12 hours at CPAC schmoozing with fellow January 6 defendants, prosecutors allege. Garcia told the court he would travel in his RV and stay in Virginia or Maryland, and not Washington, DC. Garcia went on to mock the situation on social media, prosecutors claimed.

☆ A Capitol riot suspect tricked a judge into letting him travel, then schmoozed with other Jan. 6 defendants at a conference, feds say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Capitol riot suspect tricked a court into allowing him to attend CPAC, prosecutors allege. The suspect asked the court if he could travel to Washington, DC to attend another Jan. 6 trial. Instead, he spent more than 12 hours at CPAC schmoozing with fellow January 6 defendants, prosecutors allege. Garcia told the court he would travel in his RV and stay in Virginia or Maryland, and not Washington, DC. Defense attorneys for Garica argued that Garcia's trip to CPAC "was not a violation of defendant's conditions," the court papers say.

☆ Another friend traveled all the way to Texas with the 4 Americans who were kidnapped in Mexico but didn't cross the border with them because she didn't have her ID
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A friend of the four kidnapped Americans in Mexico traveled all the way to Texas with the group. But the woman stayed behind at a hotel in Texas because she didn't have her ID, the AP reported. That's all, and this happened to them," Orange told the AP. Zalandria Brown, Zindell Brown's sister, previously told the AP that her brother was worried about crossing the border. Meanwhile, Williams' wife, Michelle Williams, told WBTW that she had no clue her husband was headed to Mexico.

☆ 'I hate him passionately': New court documents reveal Tucker Carlson's true feelings about Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Fox News host Tucker Carlson's true feelings about former President Donald Trump have been revealed. 'I hate him passionately'In one exchange, Carlson fantasized about not having to cover Trump after the 2020 election, saying that he "passionately" hated Trump. Referring to the decision desk staffers who made the Arizona call, Carlson texted: "Those fuckers are destroying our credibility. At another point in the same day, Carlson texted that "we've got to be incredibly careful right now. Tucker Carlson, who's ardently supported former President Donald Trump on his show, privately said he hated Trump, court filings show.

☆ Wife of American man kidnapped in Mexico didn't know he was crossing the border. He just said he needed to help out a couple of friends.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The wife of one of the Americans kidnapped in Mexico didn't know he was headed there. Michelle Williams, the wife of Eric Williams, told WBTW in an interview that she only knew her husband was helping out two friends. I just knew he was going somewhere to help two friends," the wife told the news outlet. Meanwhile, Brown's sister, Zalandria Brown, told the Associated Press that her brother was worried about crossing the border. "This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from," Zalandria Brown told the AP.

☆ Another 'close call': A JetBlue flight landing in Boston had to take 'evasive action' to avoid a private jet that crossed the runway
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A JetBlue flight landing at a Massachusetts airport had a "close call" with a private jet, the FAA said. The JetBlue pilot had to take "evasive action" to avoid the private jet on the runway on Monday. "The pilot of the JetBlue aircraft took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection," said the FAA. Two weeks ago, FAA acting administrator Billy Nolen issued a "safety call to action" following recent near-catastrophic "close calls" on runways and other plane incidents. And in February, a landing FedEx plane in Texas had to pull up at the last minute to avoid landing on a Southwest flight that was headed to Cancun.

☆ An American Airlines passenger forced the flight to make an emergency landing after she charged the cockpit after she couldn't get a drink: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An "unruly" passenger aboard an American Airlines flight forced an emergency landing this week. The traveler allegedly rushed at the cockpit after she couldn't get a cocktail, according to reports. "I started freaking out because so many people started getting up on me," Miles told the news outlet. However, law enforcement ultimately dismissed the charge against Miles following an investigation, the airport told Insider on Friday. The FBI told Insider "no further action is planned unless additional information or evidence comes to light."

☆ Ex-Russian commander who helped invade Crimea trashes Putin's war speech for leaving out all of Russia's failures in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Igor Girkin noted on Telegram that Putin never mentioned Russia's "failures" in its war with Ukraine. Blah blah blah," Girkin said in a post. Blah blah blah, there's no point in listening any more." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday deemed Russia's war with Ukraine a "strategic failure." "One year after President Putin attacked Ukraine, it's clear that his war has been a strategic failure in every way," Blinken told reporters in Athens, Greece.

☆ How Jimmy Carter helped to practically wipe the horrific Guinea worm parasite off the face of the earth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former US President Jimmy Carter played a major role in nearly wiping out the Guinea worm disease. Since 1986, the Carter Center has led the global campaign to annihilate Guinea worm disease. Since 1986, The Carter Center, a non-profit organization founded by Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter, has led the international campaign to annihilate Guinea worm disease in people. While Guinea worm infections have nearly been eradicated in humans, animals are still getting infected. Guinea worm disease is on track to become the second human disease in history, after smallpox, to be eradicated.

☆ Pro-Putin pundits are furious Biden made a surprise trip to Kyiv, calling it a 'humiliation' for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pro-Kremlin pundits are livid that US President Joe Biden made a surprise trip to Ukraine's capital. One Russian state TV host called Biden's visit to Kyiv a "demonstrative humiliation of Russia." Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a show of support as Ukraine fights against Putin's forces. Russian state TV host Sergey Mardan called Biden's visit a "demonstrative humiliation of Russia" in a Telegram post to his more than 231,000 subscribers. "Kremlin propagandists call Biden's visit to Kyiv 'a demonstrative humiliation,'" Gerashchenko noted in another tweet, adding, "Get used to it."

☆ A top Russian military official is dead after falling out of a 16th-floor window, the latest in a string of untimely deaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian defense official has died after reportedly falling out of a high-rise window. Marina Yankina, who worked for Russia's Western Military District, was found dead on Wednesday. Her death is the latest in a string of untimely deaths among officials and allies tied to Vladimir Putin. Before Yankina joined the Western Military District, she worked for the Federal Tax Service of Russia. Last September, 67-year-old Russian energy oligarch Ravil Maganov also died after falling from a hospital window, Insider reported at the time.

☆ China threatens to punish the US for shooting down its spy balloon that floated past sensitive military sites before a jet shot it out of the sky
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China threatened to punish the US on Wednesday for shooting down its massive balloon. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing "will take countermeasures" against the US. Beijing has repeatedly insisted that the US "overreacted" by shooting down the balloon. Although Beijing has admitted that the downed balloon belonged to China, it has insisted it was a weather balloon that blew off course. The Chinese government spokesperson also demanded that the US "stop smearing and attacking China and stop misleading the US public and the international community."

☆ A transgender pharmacist says she felt 'dehumanized' after an Arkansas GOP lawmaker asked her about her genitalia during a public hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Arkansas GOP lawmaker asked a transgender pharmacist about her genitalia during a bill hearing. "That's horrible," Gwendolyn Herzig replied when McKee asked her, "Do you have a penis?" McKee asked Herzig, who was testifying against the bill at the time, prompting her to respond, "A trans female, yes sir." "You're the one that brought that into the discussion," McKee told Herzig, who shot back: "I never said anything about genitalia." Herzig told Insider on Wednesday that she felt "shock" and "disgust" when McKee asked about her genitalia.

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