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☆ Bankman-Fried trial poses biggest test to date for crypto's top cop
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | 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: +6 min

Bankman-Fried's will be the first of Williams' blockbuster white collar cases to go to trial. The cases Williams, 43, has brought so far show he has been a "steward" of the SDNY's longstanding priorities, said Kan Nawaday, who overlapped with Williams at the office. Prosecutors had described the cases as the first insider trading cases brought involving digital assets. Williams' charges against Bankman-Fried came just one month after FTX's collapse, which former prosecutors say is very fast for a complex white collar case. WILLIAMS HAS STRUGGLED WITH SELF-DOUBTBankman-Fried's trial comes after some setbacks and amid ongoing challenges for Williams' office.

Persons: Damian Williams, Mike Segar, Sam Bankman, Williams, Charlie Javice, Bill Hwang, Joe Lewis, Javice, Hwang, Lewis, Kan Nawaday, He's, Venable, Prosecutors, Alex Mashinsky, WILLIAMS, SDNY's, John Paul Stevens, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Joe Biden, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Fried, Joshua Naftalis, Pallas, Brian Benjamin, haters, Luc Cohen, Noeleen Walder, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Attorney, Southern, of, REUTERS, U.S, Yale Law School, Archegos Capital Management, Supreme, Allianz's U.S, Allianz, Bankman, New, Columbia Law School, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, of New York, English, Jersey, Bahamas, Caribbean, New York, Bronx, Georgia

☆ Federal judge declines to block Medicare drug price negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A pharmacist holds a bottle of the drug Eliquis, made by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, January 9, 2020. A federal judge on Friday declined to block the Biden administration from implementing Medicare drug price negotiations, upholding for now a controversial process that aims to make costly medications more affordable for older Americans. That date is the deadline for manufacturers of the first 10 drugs selected for negotiations to agree to participate in the talks. Newman also gave the Biden administration until Oct. 27 to renew its motion to dismiss the case. The ruling from Newman is a blow to the pharmaceutical industry, which views the process as a threat to its revenue growth, profits and drug innovation.

Persons: Biden, Judge Michael Newman, Newman, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Johnson Organizations: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Southern, Southern District of Ohio, Chamber of Commerce, Chamber, Merck, Johnson Locations: Provo , Utah, Southern District

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to pocketing bribes in a wide-ranging corruption case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to federal charges accusing him of pocketing bribes of cash and gold bars in exchange for wielding his political influence to secretly advance Egyptian interests and do favors for local businessmen. Menendez spoke in court only when each defendant stood to acknowledge that they understood the charges against them. A lawyer entered the not guilty plea for Menendez, who was forced to step down as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted. They say Menendez also tried to interfere in criminal investigations involving associates, in one case pushing to install in New Jersey a federal prosecutor who he believed he could influence to derail a case. Two of the businessmen, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, also were arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nadine Arslanian, Sen, Menendez, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Jersey Sen, Cory Booker, Nadine, Nadine Menendez, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Hana, Prosecutors, Menendez's Organizations: Democrat, Court, Southern District of, U.S, Bob Menendez of New, Foreign, Senate, Illinois, Democrats, Authorities, Prosecutors, Kennedy Airport Locations: New Jersey, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York City, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Englewood, , New Jersey, Egypt

☆ Former federal prosecutor joins Trump defense team Trump adds former federal prosecutor to his legal team as he faces multiple indictments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Kristen Holmes Sara Murray Hannah Rabinowitz | Kristen Holmes | Sara Murray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Donald Trump has added two new attorneys, including a former federal prosecutor from New York, to his legal team, a source familiar with the decision told CNN. Kendra Wharton, a white-collar defense lawyer who has experience practicing in Washington, DC, will also help the former president’s legal team with its defense. The pair adds to the extensive legal team the former president has put together. Rowley and Trusty soon resigned from his legal team entirely. His legal team is now led by Blanche, who Trump hired in April after being indicted in Manhattan.

Persons: Donald Trump, Emil Bove, Kendra Wharton, Trump, Jack Smith, Todd Blanche, Wharton, ”, Jim, John Rowley, Rowley, Timothy Parlatore, Blanche, Chris Kise, John Lauro Organizations: CNN, US, Southern, of, Trump Locations: New York, of New York, Washington , DC, Georgia, Manhattan, Florida, Washington

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez to be arraigned as resignation calls grow louder
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Dareh Gregorian | Jonathan Dienst | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks during a news conference at Hudson County Community College's North Hudson Campus in Union City, New Jersey, on September 25, 2023. Menendez, his wife, Nadine, and two co-defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in the morning. Since the indictment was unsealed Friday, Menendez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and he is expected to plead not guilty. But he faces a deluge of calls to resign from his Democratic colleagues in the Senate and at the local level in New Jersey. The federal indictment is the second Menendez has faced since he became a senator in 2006.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Sen, Menendez, Nadine, — Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes —, Hana, Uribe, Daibes, Damian Williams Organizations: Hudson, Hudson County Community, Hudson Campus, Democratic, Southern, of, Foreign, Capitol, Office Locations: Hudson County, Hudson, Union City , New Jersey, New York, New Jersey, couple's, Jersey, U.S, of New York, Englewood, Cuba, Florida

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. Treasury has announced sanctions against nine affiliates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug trafficking cartel, as well as the current leader of Colombia’s powerful Clan del Golfo criminal enterprise. The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated all 10 for their roles in drug trafficking, meaning any of their assets in the United States will be blocked and U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from dealing with any of their assets. The nine affiliates of the Sinaloa cartel follow a U.S. indictment unsealed in April that targeted a branch of the Sinaloa cartel run by the sons of former leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Mexico extradited one of those sons, Ovidio Guzmán López, earlier this month to the United States. “Today’s actions reinforce the United States’ whole of government approach to saving lives by disrupting illicit drug supply chains,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Persons: del, Joaquín “, Ovidio Guzmán López, Antony Blinken, de Jesus Avila Villadiego, “ Chiquito, ”, U.S . Avila, Avila Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Treasury, Foreign Assets Control, Colombian, de, U.S ., Southern District of, of Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Sinaloa, United States, Guzmán, Mexico, Colombia, Bogota, Avila, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Eastern, of New York

☆ JPMorgan pays US Virgin Islands $75 million to settle lawsuit alleging the bank aided Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —JPMorgan Chase has reached a settlement with the US Virgin Islands over a lawsuit alleging the bank enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes. The settlement includes “significant commitments” by JPMorgan Chase to curtail human trafficking, and a $75 million payment to the US Virgin Islands. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking dozens of underage girls. The bank said that $30 million of the settlement will help support charitable organizations working to end human trafficking and to support survivors. Another $25 million will be paid to the USVI to enhance infrastructure and bolster law enforcement.

Persons: JPMorgan Chase, Jeffrey Epstein’s, Epstein’s, Epstein, James “ Jes ” Staley Organizations: New, New York CNN, JPMorgan, US Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands, JPMorgan Chase, of Locations: New York, Virgin, Southern, of New York, Palm Beach

People walk by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the financial district of New York City, U.S., June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Federal Reserve Bank of New York FollowNEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit accusing the Federal Reserve Bank of New York of illegally firing two longtime employees who claimed religious objections in refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The New York Fed began requiring COVID-19 vaccines for all employees in August 2021. The New York Fed declined to comment. The case is Gardner-Alfred et al v Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, District Judge Lewis Liman, Lori Gardner, Alfred, Jeanette Diaz, Gardner, Diaz, Liman, John Balestriere, Alfred et, Jonathan Stempel, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New, REUTERS, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, COVID, U.S, District, New York Fed, Catholic, New, Fed, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York City, U.S, Manhattan, Bronx , New York, Bayonne , New Jersey, New York, COVID, Southern District, Southern District of New York

The creators of the hit crime drama "Better Call Saul" on Monday won the dismissal of a defamation and trademark infringement lawsuit by Liberty Tax Service for depicting a shady fictional tax firm that appeared to resemble its own. Gardephe said Liberty Tax offered no "particularly compelling" allegations that viewers would be confused into thinking Sweet Liberty was one of its more than 2,500 offices. "Better Call Saul" starred Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, a corrupt lawyer also known as Jimmy McGill. Peter Siachos, a lawyer for Liberty Tax, said his client will explore its legal options, including an appeal or refiling the lawsuit in a state court. Both said their use of Sweet Liberty was protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Persons: Bob Odenkirk, Saul, Paul Gardephe, Gardephe, Liberty, Saul Goodman, Jimmy McGill, Goodman, Craig, Betsy Kettleman, Rosa Parks, Parks, Peter Siachos, Jonathan Stempel, Rami Ayyub Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Liberty Tax Service, U.S, District, AMC Networks, Sony Pictures Television, Liberty Tax Services, Liberty Tax, Liberty, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Manhattan, New Mexico, Virginia Beach , Virginia, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

☆ Third arrest made in connection with suspected fentanyl overdose death of 1-year-old boy, exposure of 3 other children at Bronx day care center
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Mark Morales | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —A third person has been arrested and was charged in federal court Monday in connection with the death of a 1-year-old boy who was exposed to the highly potent drug fentanyl while inside a Bronx day care, according to federal prosecutors. One-year-old Nicholas Dominici died after the suspected fentanyl exposure earlier this month at Divino Niño day care center. Paredes, who was arrested Saturday in an apartment in the Bronx, allegedly conspired to distribute fentanyl, including at the day care center, from at least July of 2023, authorities said. Paredes and his alleged co-conspirators, Grei Mendez and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, stored the drugs at the day care – including a kilo of fentanyl on children’s playmats, according to a criminal complaint. Investigators were able to trace phone calls and text messages from Mendez and Brito that led them to Paredes, according to the complaint.

Persons: New York CNN —, Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, Paredes, Damian Williams, Nicholas Dominici, –, Grei Mendez, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, Dawn ”, Mendez, Brito, Nicholas ’, Frank, Tarentino III, ” Tarentino III, ” Paredes Organizations: New, New York CNN, Authorities, Court, CNN, Southern, of Locations: New York, Manhattan, Divino, Bronx, Paredes

☆ Third Suspect Arrested in Death at Day Care Where Fentanyl Was Found
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Chelsia Rose Marcius | More About Chelsia Rose Marcius | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A third person has been charged in the death of a 1-year-old boy who died after being exposed to fentanyl at a home-based Bronx day care, federal prosecutors said on Monday. The man, Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, was charged in Federal District Court in Manhattan on Monday with conspiracy to distribute narcotics that resulted in the boy’s death, according to a news release from the Southern District of New York. The charges also relate to the poisoning of three other children exposed to fentanyl at the day care, which was run out of an apartment where Mr. Paredes was living, prosecutors said. He remains in custody pending his next court appearance. Grei Mendez, 36, who ran the day care, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, a 41-year-old man who lived in the apartment, also were charged with murder after the death of Nicholas Feliz Dominici this month.

Persons: Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, Paredes, Grei Mendez, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, Nicholas Feliz Organizations: Court, Southern, of Locations: Manhattan, of New York

☆ Citadel Securities is locked in a legal battle with 2 ex-staff who left to start a crypto firm and say they're victims of 'corporate bullying'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The venture has faced legal challenges by Citadel Securities, whose European arm filed a case in London in June 2022. Portofino said in its initial response that Citadel's legal action was "unmeritorious, anticompetitive and a classic example of corporate bullying." AdvertisementAdvertisementIn January 2022 Griffin sold a $1.2 billion stake in Citadel Securities to venture capital firms Sequoia and Paradigm. "Further, their attempt to improperly poach Vincent Prieur, a New York-based employee described as the 'aggregator of all things crypto' at Citadel Securities, is undisputed. Prieur, who later joined Portofino, had also been the subject of legal action by Citadel Securities that was settled out of court, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: Alex Casimo, Leonard Lancia, Ken Griffin, Griffin, Peter Thiel, Slack, Zalando, Portofino, Casimo, it's, Peng Zhao, Matt Huang, Lancia, poach Vincent Prieur, Prieur Organizations: Citadel Securities, Portofino Technologies, Citadel, New, Service, Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Global Founders, Lancia, London Court, Portofino, Court, Southern, of, Sequoia, Paradigm, Financial Times, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Wall, Silicon, Miami, Swiss, London, Europe, of New York, Portofino

☆ Bob Menendez is rejecting the wave of calls for him to resign after his federal indictment, arguing that 'some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has defiantly stated that he is not stepping down from office. Menendez on Friday was charged with taking hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes. "I am not going anywhere," he said in a statement, while also referencing his Latino heritage. "Bob Menendez is a disgrace who abused his Senate seat and allegedly betrayed his country for a couple hundred thousand dollars," Senate Republican campaign committee spokesman Philip Letsou said in a statement. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe indictment alleges that the senator "provided sensitive US government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt."

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Damian Williams, Andy Kim, he's, Phil Murphy, Josh Gottheimer, Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone Jr, Bill Pascrell, Mikie Sherrill, Jon Corzine, Philip Letsou, — Nadine Menendez — Organizations: Bob Menendez of New, Service, Democratic, Foreign Relations, Southern, of, Garden State, Saturday, Senate, Republican Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Wall, Silicon, of New York, New Jersey, Trenton, Egypt, Florida

☆ Sen. Menendez defiant after second corruption indictment: 'Prosecutors did that the last time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., walks through the Senate subway on his way to a vote in the Capitol, in Washington, D.C., May 4, 2023. Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesWASHINGTON — Sen. Robert Menendez on Friday vowed to remain in the Senate while he fights federal charges of bribery and extortion announced earlier in the day. The indictment was the second time the New Jersey Democrat had been prosecuted for alleged corruption as a sitting senator. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez holds one of the most powerful gavels in Congress. The senator and his wife, Nadine Menendez, were indicted Friday on three criminal counts each after a multiyear federal investigation.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Bill Clark, Getty Images WASHINGTON — Sen, Robert Menendez, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Damian Williams, Nadine, Alexi J, Rosenfeld Organizations: Washington , D.C, Cq, Inc, Getty Images WASHINGTON, New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, Democratic, NBC News, Southern, of, Attorney, U.S, Getty Locations: Washington ,, New Jersey, Jersey, of New York, U.S, New York City

☆ Smartmatic implicated in alleged bribery scheme involving top Filipino election official
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Smartmatic, the voting technology company suing Fox News and former President Donald Trump’s top allies over their false claims that its machines rigged the 2020 election, was implicated in an alleged bribery scheme involving the former top election official in the Philippines, according to court filings obtained by CNN. The court documents indicate that the Justice Department has filed money laundering charges against former Filipino election administrator Andres Bautista – and that four executives from Smartmatic subsidiaries are implicated as uncharged co-conspirators. Bautista awarded $199 million in contracts to Smartmatic for about 94,000 voting machines and to handle the results of the Philippines’ presidential election in 2016. The new allegations of corrupt foreign dealings could boost the defense for Fox News and the other Trump allies currently fighting Smartmatic in court. The criminal complaint against Bautista doesn’t accuse Smartmatic of tampering with election results in the Philippines or any other jurisdiction.

Persons: CNN — Smartmatic, Donald Trump’s, Andres Bautista –, Smartmatic, Samira Saba, “, Bautista, ” Smartmatic, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Mike Lindell, OAN, Bautista “, ”, ” Bautista, Saba, Bautista doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Justice, Trump, Fox, “, State Department, Southern, Southern District of Locations: Philippines, California, Florida, Venezuela, Southern District, Southern District of Florida

CNN —New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was charged on Friday with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment. This is the second set of corruption charges levied against Menendez by the Justice Department in a decade. Beginning in April, his wife sold gold bars worth as much as $400,000, according to the senator’s most recent financial disclosure form. Sen. Bob Menendez, his wife Nadine and Jose Uribe pictured in the indictment released Friday.

Persons: New Jersey Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, Cash, ”, ” Menendez, Nadine, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Sen, MENENDEZ, Menendez ’, Jose, Uribe, Prosecutors, Salomon Melgen, Melgen, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, New, New Jersey Democratic, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Senate Democratic, Foreign Relations, Court Southern District of, Department of Agriculture, of Agriculture, Agriculture Department, EG, Hyatt, Court Southern District of New, The Justice Department, “ Locations: New Jersey, Court Southern District of New York, Jersey, Egypt, Washington, Paris

☆ Federal agents found more than $480,000 in cash 'stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing' in Sen. Bob Menendez's home, indictment says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted on bribery charges. Federal agents found cash "stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing" in his home. That included more than $480,000 in cash that was "stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe." Exhibits from the federal indictment showing cash on top of Menendez's jackets. US District Court for the Southern District of New YorkIn a defiant statement on the indictment, Menendez said that he's the victim of a "smear campaign" and that prosecutors have "misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office."

Persons: Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Bob Menendez's, Nadine, Nadine Menendez, Wael, Will, Hana Organizations: Democratic, Bob Menendez of New, Service, New, Jersey senator's, Jersey businessmen, Court, Southern, of, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Wall, Silicon, New Jersey, Jersey, of New York, of Egypt, Egypt

☆ Watch: U.S. Attorney's Office holds press conference announcing Bob Menendez indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York is holding a press conference to announce an indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife. Menendez and his wife were charged Friday with three counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. Prosecutors also charged three businessmen: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. The indictment alleges that Menendez promised and moved to disrupt a federal criminal prosecution of Daibes in exchange for money and other items. Please refresh the page if you do not see a video above at that time).

Persons: U.S . Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Prosecutors, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes Organizations: U.S, Southern, of, U.S ., Bob Menendez of New Locations: of New York, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey

☆ New Jersey Gov. Murphy, Assembly speaker call on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Phil Murphy, the state's General Assembly speaker and the Democratic State Committee chairman all called on U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez to resign Friday after their fellow Democrat was indicted on federal bribery charges. "The allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four other defendants are deeply disturbing," Murphy said about Menendez, the state's senior senator. "The alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said, "The charges laid out against Senator Menendez today go against everything we should believe as public servants. Two New Jersey Democrats in Congress, U.S. Reps. Andy Kim and Mikie Sherrill, also called on Menendez to resign.

Persons: Phil Murphy, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Murphy, Craig Coughlin, Coughlin, LeRoy Jones, Jr, Jones, Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, I've, Nadine Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, Kim, Sherrill, Matthew Platkin, Platkin Organizations: WASHINGTON — New, WASHINGTON — New Jersey Gov, Democratic, New, New Jersey Democrats, Reps, Prosecutors, U.S, New York Democrat, Senate, Democrats, U.S . Senate, Sherrill . New, Southern Locations: WASHINGTON —, WASHINGTON — New Jersey, New Jersey, America, Jersey, New York, Sherrill ., Sherrill . New Jersey

☆ US Judge Strikes Down California Ban on High-Capacity Gun Magazines
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego said California's "sweeping ban" went too far by preventing people from using magazines for lawful purposes, including self-defense. "The Supreme Court was clear that Bruen did not create a regulatory straitjacket for states--and we believe that the district court got this wrong," Bonta said. The judge had struck down the magazines ban in March 2019, but the 9th Circuit overturned him in Nov. 2021. The Supreme Court vacated the appeals court ruling and ordered new proceedings consistent with the Bruen decision. The case is Duncan et al v. Bonta, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, No.

Persons: Jonathan Stempel, Roger Benitez, California's, Benitez, Rob Bonta, Bonta, Chuck Michel, Gavin Newsom, Duncan, David Gregorio Organizations: U.S, District, Supreme, , New York, Circuit, California, Association, Court, Southern District of Locations: California, San Diego, ,, San Francisco, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of California, New York

As the day went on after the bombshell indictment, Democrats began bailing on their legally troubled colleague. The indictment said Menendez used his position to help the business executives as well. The indictment includes cinematic, almost comical details about the payoffs Menendez is said to have accepted. Some of the cash was stashed in jackets that were embroidered with the words "Robert Menendez" or "Senator Menendez." At one point, the indictment said, Menendez did a Google search for "kilo of gold price."

Persons: Bob Menendez, Menendez, –, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Phil Murphy, ” Murphy, Craig Coughlin, Leroy Jones, Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, Tom Malinowski, Noah Bookbinder, taints Menendez, Bookbinder, ”, Trump, fundraised, Ron Filipkowski, they're, Ron DeSantis's, Lisa McCormick, Ross Baker, Murphy, Baker, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Nadine, Biden, Daibes, “, Damian Williams, Robert Menendez, Uribe, Hana Organizations: GOP, Department of Justice, Republicans, Democratic Gov, New, New Jersey Democrats, Democratic, Senate, Democrats, Senate Foreign Relations, Justice, U.S, Republican, Florida Gov, Foreign, Rutgers University, Benz, Embassy, of, Department of Agriculture, Manhattan U.S Locations: New Jersey, Washington, Sarasota , Florida, Menendez's, Jersey, Florida, Tahesha, U.S, Cairo, Egypt, Southern, of New York, Manhattan

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez is facing charges yet again — this time in the most cartoonish corruption scandal you can imagine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Federal prosecutors are charging Sen. Robert Menendez in a bribery and corruption scandal. Menendez allegedly helped a trio of businessmen and Egypt in exchange for — among other things — gold bars. Menendez previously faced corruption charges in 2017, but the case was dropped. The indictment alleges that Menendez "provided sensitive US government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt." In exchange, prosecutors allege that Wael "Will" Hana, who helped run the company, provided Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, a "low-or-no-show job."

Persons: Sen, Robert Menendez, Menendez, Jersey Sen, Wael, Will, Hana, Nadine Menendez, Trump, SDNY, It's Organizations: Service, US, Office, of, Foreign Relations, EG, Inc, Prosecutors, Benz, Department of Agriculture, District of Locations: Egypt, Wall, Silicon, Jersey, Southern, of New York, New Jersey, District of New Jersey

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego said California's "sweeping ban" went too far by preventing people from using magazines for lawful purposes, including self-defense. The judge had struck down the magazines ban in March 2019, but the 9th Circuit overturned him in Nov. 2021. The Supreme Court vacated the appeals court ruling and ordered new proceedings consistent with the Bruen decision. Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, in a statement, said Friday's decision reflects the "sea change in the way courts must look at these absurdly restrictive laws." The case is Duncan et al v. Bonta, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, No.

Persons: Roger Benitez, California's, Benitez, Rob Bonta, Bonta, Chuck Michel, Gavin Newsom, Duncan, Jonathan Stempel, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Long Beach Police Department, U.S, District, Supreme, , New York, Circuit, California, Association, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Long Beach, Long Beach , California, U.S, California, San Diego, ,, San Francisco, Southern District, Southern District of California, New York

☆ Teo Boon Ching: 'Godfather' of illicit wildlife trade jailed for trafficking rhino horns worth $2 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Wildlife trafficking is a serious threat,” said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in the release. Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images‘Body blow’Prosecutors said a covert operation exposed Ching’s efforts to traffic about 219 kilograms [483 pounds] of rhino horns “resulting from the poaching of numerous rhinoceros” with an estimated value of $2.1 million. The horns were delivered in a suitcase in Thailand by those working for the wildlife trafficking organization, officials said. The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which supplied intelligence on Ching to US enforcement agents, said his jailing was a “body blow” to the illegal wildlife trade. “Chinese and Vietnamese organized crime networks have long exploited Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries as transit hubs for smuggling illegal wildlife commodities from Africa into Asia,” an EIA statement read.

Persons: Teo Boon Ching, Ching, ”, Damian Williams, Sam Yeh, Olivia Swaak, Goldman, “, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Southern, of, ” Rhinos, World Wildlife Fund, Rhinos, Getty, Prosecutors, Environmental Investigation Agency, US Treasury Department, Wildlife Justice Commission Locations: Malaysian, Manhattan, of New York, Thailand, United States, Africa, Asia, China, Vietnam, AFP, New York, London, Malaysia

☆ 'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin and other writers sue ChatGPT's maker claiming copyright infringement: 'Generative AI threatens to decimate the author profession'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Martin and other authors are suing ChatGPT owner OpenAI claiming copyright infringement. It follows a series of lawsuits writers launched against OpenAI over similar accusations. This latest lawsuit joins a series of legal disputes that writers have launched against OpenAI on similar accusations of copyright infringement. Associated Press, for instance, struck a two-year agreement with OpenAI that gives the AI company permission to train ChatGPT on its archive of news stories. As for the Authors Guild, writers "must have the ability to control if and how their works are used by generative AI," Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger wrote in a statement.

Persons: George R.R, Martin, OpenAI, —, John Grisham, Mona Awad, Paul Tremblay, Weeks, Sarah Silverman —, Christophe Golden, Richard Kadrey —, It's, Mary Rasenberger, Rasenberger Organizations: Service, OpenAI, of, Hollywood, The New York Times, Stability, Getty, Associated Press, Authors Guild Locations: Wall, Silicon, ChatGPT, Southern, of New York

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