DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Iran sent a written message via Swiss diplomats in mid-October saying that it would not seek to kill Donald Trump, according to a U.S. official. Switzerland handles U.S. diplomatic interests in Tehran as Iran and the United States do not have official diplomatic relations. In July, the Biden administration obtained intelligence about an Iranian assassination plot against Trump, and the information led the Secret Service to ramp up security for his campaign. Last week, the Justice Department charged an Iranian man with plotting to assassinate Trump as a part of a murder-for-hire scheme. Officials have found no link between the shooter in that case and the Iranian plot.

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Qasem Soleimani, Trump’s, Soleimani, Steven Cheung, ” Organizations: U.S, Trump, Street Journal, Iran’s United Nations, Service, Justice Department, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, The Justice Department, United Nations Locations: Iran, Switzerland, Tehran, United States, U.S, Baghdad, Butler, Pa, United, Fars

The FBI on Friday said reports of racist and offensive text messages sent from anonymous phone numbers are now being sent to members of Latino and LGBTQ communities. The FBI is investigating previous reports of dozens of racist texts sent to Black Americans telling them they have been “selected" to pick cotton "at the nearest plantation" immediately following last week's election. The initial reports of racist texts last week included recipients who attend universities from California to South Carolina, with some sent via TextNow, a service compatible with untraceable, “burner” phone numbers. The FBI on Friday said the texts from the initial reports were not identical but seemed to follow similar themes. The agency said it's also sharing information on the expanding texts and emails with education institutions and faith leaders.

Persons: Juan Proaño, Monèt Miller, Derrick Johnson, Proaño, LULAC, it's Organizations: FBI, U.S . Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, LULAC, League, United Latin, NAACP, stoke Locations: California, South Carolina, TextNow, Atlanta

☆ The House GOP is more aligned with Trump than ever: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar examines how House Republicans are growing increasingly aligned with Donald Trump. Plus, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker looks back at how Trump's Cabinet announcements from right yers ago compare to now. The House GOP is more aligned with Trump than everBy Ben KamisarPresident-elect Donald Trump and the GOP believe Americans delivered them a mandate last week when they handed the party unified control of Washington. Newly elected Senate GOP leader John Thune certainly isn’t a Trump antagonist, but he’s a descendent of the institutional Republican Party. It’s a dynamic worth keeping tabs on, especially as Senate Republicans begin the process of vetting Trump’s Cabinet picks.

Persons: Ben Kamisar, Donald Trump, Kristen Welker, Trump, ” Rep, Troy Nehls, Kyle Stewart, “, John Thune, Trump’s, Sen, John Barrasso, Donald Trump’s, ”, — Trump, Marco Rubio, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Doug Burgum, Tulsi Gabbard, James Mattis, John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, —, Steve Bannon, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Doug Collins, 🗞️, Jo Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, GOP, Trump, NBC News, ”, Senate, Republican Party, Press, State Department, Justice Department, Defense Department, Department of Health, Human Services, Interior Department, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, RFK Jr, Department, Former Trump, Republican, Health, Elon, Department of Veterans Affairs, Sena Locations: Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, Gaetz, California, Iraq

That unit has brought forward more than 1,500 cases in the “most wide-ranging investigation” in the history of the Justice Department. Nicole Reffitt, a supporter of the Capitol defendants, told NBC News she is pleased with the Gaetz pick. “We need a fighter in leadership, and that’s why I’m backing Matt Gaetz for Attorney General,” Evans wrote. One of Gaetz’s podcasts featuring Beattie was titled “Fedsurrection,” a nickname generated by far-right extremists who have portrayed the Capitol attack as an inside job, without evidence. Not one is a member of Antifa or a FBI agent.”On the first anniversary of Jan. 6, Gaetz held another news conference to “expose the truth” about the attack.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump, Gaetz, “, ”, —, Trump, he’ll, Nicole Reffitt, Guy Reffitt, “ Trump, ” Nicole Reffitt, ” Derrick Evans, rioter, ” Evans, — he’s, antifa, ” Gaetz, Darren Beattie, Beattie, Ray Epps, Epps, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tami Perryman, Jan Organizations: WASHINGTON, Florida Republican, Capitol, Justice Department, Prosecutors, NBC News, Trump, J6, Trump White House, RNC, DNC, FBI, D.C, Gaetz’s, DOJ, NBC Locations: Florida, United States, America, Gaetz, Washington, Congress

President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate Todd Blanche, one of his criminal defense lawyers, to be deputy attorney general. The statement noted that Blanche has experience working for the Justice Department — something former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Trump's choice for attorney general, does not have. Blanche was Trump's lead lawyer when he stood trial on charges of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment this year. If Blanche's nomination is confirmed before Gaetz's, he could serve as acting attorney general while Gaetz goes through the process. He will also nominate D. John Sauer, who argued Trump's successful immunity case before the Supreme Court, for solicitor general.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Todd, Trump, Blanche, Justice Department —, Matt Gaetz, Trump's, Juan Merchan, Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith's, Smith ., Tanya Chutkan, Gaetz's, Gaetz, Emil Bove, Emil, John Sauer, John, Antonin Scalia, Sauer's Organizations: Justice Department, Justice, of New York United, of New York United States Attorney’s, Trump, State, Manhattan, White House, U.S, Smith . U.S, Senate, National Security Unit, United States Supreme, Supreme, MAGA Locations: Southern, of New York United States, ., Florida, Missouri

☆ Woman told House Ethics Committee she saw Gaetz have sex with a minor, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Casey Gannon | Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The attorney who represents two women who were witnesses in the House Ethics Committee probe into former congressman Matt Gaetz said Friday that one of his clients told the panel she saw the congressman having sex with a minor. “My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Matt Gaetz having sex with a minor,” said attorney Joel Leppard, whose clients sat for closed-door testimony before the committee as part of the now-dropped investigation into the Florida Republican. The Justice Department deemed the files too sensitive to release even to the House Ethics Committee. And House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday he does not think the panel’s findings should be released and that he was “going to strongly request” the committee not do so. CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Evan Perez, Annie Grayer, Manu Raju and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, ”, Joel Leppard, ” Gaetz, Gaetz, “ Merrick, Donald Trump, Gaetz’s, Leppard, Mike Johnson, Trump, Pete Hegseth, CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Evan Perez, Annie Grayer, Manu Raju, Lauren Fox Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, ABC News, Department of Justice, Senate, DOJ, Justice Department, Democrats, Republicans, Fox News Locations: Florida

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is bypassing traditional FBI background checks for at least some of his Cabinet picks while using private companies to conduct vetting of potential candidates for administration jobs, people close to the transition planning say. It also reflects Trump’s deep mistrust of the national security establishment, which he derides as the Deep State. If Gaetz does not participate in the vetting process, the FBI could still try to do a basic investigation at the request of the Senate. Instead, Trump’s transition team has been focused on conducting its own internal vetting of candidates for top administration jobs. So if Trump’s team continues to skirt the vetting process, those tapped for key roles wouldn’t be able to receive briefings until then.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Dan Meyer, “, ”, Trump’s, Gaetz, Gabbard, Bashar al, Vladimir Putin’s, Biden, Jared Kushner, won’t, wouldn’t, Mike Waltz Organizations: CNN, Trump, FBI, Justice Department, NATO Locations: Washington, Washington ,, Florida, Syria, Russia, Assad, United States, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ How Democrats can still flex power in Trump's Washington: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

In today’s edition, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur examines the way Democrats can still exert some power in Donald Trump's Washington. How Democrats can still flex power in Trump’s WashingtonBy Sahil KapurRepublicans have won full control of Washington, but Democrats will retain two key levers of power to shape legislative outcomes in Donald Trump’s second term. That margin is slimming further as Trump plucks House members for administration jobs. The last two years showed how chaotic and dysfunctional this GOP-controlled House can be, even when the stakes are low. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction over only sitting House members.

Persons: Sahil Kapur, Donald, Donald Trump's Washington, Matt Gaetz's, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump’s, Robert Garcia, “, Sen, John Thune, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Van Hollen, Patty Murray, Richard Hudson, Trump, Donald Trump, it’s, it’ll, Tony Gonzales, Matt Gaetz, Ryan Nobles, Julie Tsirkin, Frank Thorp V, Kate Santaliz, Gaetz, Justice Department —, they’ll, Joni Ernst, John Curtis, → Trump, Berkeley Lovelace Jr, Dasha Burns Trump, Kennedy, Bill Cassidy, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, 🗞️, Tim, lea Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, Health, Human Services Department, Sahil Kapur Republicans, Trump plucks, ”, Republican, Senate, GOP, House Republican, Justice Department, NBC News, Committee, Punchbowl News, RFK, Human Services, Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Education, Labor, Pensions, “ RFK, Trump, Elon, of Government, Cabinet Locations: Donald Trump's, Trump’s Washington, Washington, “, Texas, Florida, Congress, Iowa, Utah, Elon, usk

☆ Georgia's Fulton County Jail violates rights of detainees with violence and filth, feds say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The department on Thursday announced its findings from a civil rights investigation that had opened in July 2023 into conditions of Fulton County Jail in Georgia. Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment Thursday. Fulton County Jail: Home to stabbings, assaults, pests and a lack of careThe lengthy report presented a staggering portrait of violence and death at the Fulton County Jail. The report found that Fulton County Jail failed to protect detainees from the risk of harm from violence and sexual violence. Further, Fulton County Jail deputies and detention officers use force against incarcerated people without adequate justification, including deploying Tasers without reasonable cause, the document said.

Persons: Lashawn Thompson, It’s, Lashawn Thompson Thompson, WXIA, Thompson, Thompson’s, Thursday's, General Merrick Garland, ”, Kristen Clarke Organizations: Sheriff’s, NBC, Georgia Tech, Office, Justice Department’s Civil Rights, Justice, U.S, Justice Department Locations: Georgia’s Fulton County, Fulton County Jail, Georgia, Fulton, Fulton County, Atlanta

WASHINGTON — Republican senators are preparing for a robust vetting of Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, with a keen interest in details from a House Ethics Committee investigation into the former congressman from Florida. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction only over sitting House members. Many Republican senators, including members of the GOP-led Judiciary Committee that will oversee Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, said they'll want to see the details of the House Ethics investigation into Gaetz. But Gaetz's resignation complicates things, and the House committee hasn't indicated what it will do. Asked directly if he'd vote to confirm Gaetz, Cramer said the Florida congressman would have to make it through the Judiciary Committee first.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Gaetz, Justice Department —, Trump, they'll, Sen, Joni Ernst, John Curtis, “, hasn't, Bill Boner, Buz Lukens, John Cornyn of, he'd, ”, Cornyn, it’s, ” Cornyn, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Trump hadn’t, Matt, Chuck Grassley, we’ve, ” Grassley, , Grassley, Susan Collins, Collins, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa Murkowski, Gaetz's, Ernst, He’s, JD Vance, Kevin Cramer, we’re, —, Cramer, McCarthy, I’ll, he’s, Mike Braun, I’m Organizations: Justice Department, NBC News, Republican, GOP, Committee, Punchbowl News, Judiciary, “, Department, NBC, Republicans, —, Trump Locations: Florida, Congress, Iowa, Utah, Ohio, John Cornyn of Texas, Maine, Pennsylvania, Alaska

“President Trump is going to hit the Justice Department with a blowtorch, and Matt Gaetz is that torch,” Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House strategist, told NBC News. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't think Gaetz was "a serious nomination for the attorney general." From bitter experience, Trump knows that he needs an attorney general he can trust implicitly, and it might be worth the political capital to battle for Gaetz's confirmation. Little happened in Trump’s first term that angered him as much as Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to recuse himself and appoint a special counsel to investigate whether there were links between his 2016 campaign and Russia. In Gaetz, Trump would get an attorney general who has said Trump won the election that year, as well as an iconoclast who shares his willingness to upset the status quo.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Matt Gaetz, Steve Bannon, Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Tom Homan, Kristi Noem, Mount Rushmore, James Mattis, Mattis, John Kelly, Kelly, who'd, Hegseth, Donald J, ”, Max Stier, Gaetz, Kamala Harris, Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Kevin Cramer, Jeff Sessions, I’m, ” Trump, Robert Mueller, William Barr Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice Department, Defense, Justice, White, Department, White House, NBC News, Fox News, Democrat, Trump, South Dakota Gov, National Guard, Partnership for Public Service, Senate, Republicans, FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, NBC, Washington Locations: Afghanistan, Iraq, Alaska, Russia

"OMG," a current senior Justice Department official said. Another Justice Department employee said, "I’m struggling to find words." "And look, he is uniquely qualified," that Justice Department official said, snarkily. A current senior Justice Department official "did not see this coming," while another called it "absolutely unbelievable." A former senior Justice Department official, meanwhile, said in a text message Gaetz's selection "cannot be real."

Persons: Donald Trump's, Matt Gaetz —, ” Gaetz, ”, Gaetz, I’m, Kevin Dietsch, Ray Epps, Brandon Straka, “, Trump, Matt, ” Said Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice Department, Trump, FBI, Department, Justice, U.S . Capitol, Republican National Committee, Democratic National Committee, Senate, Department of Justice Locations: Florida, United States, Pennsylvania

☆ Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick for attorney general, had been a subject of a sex trafficking investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Tom_Winter_Nbc_News.Jpg | Tom Winter | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the Justice Department, has previously been investigated over allegations of sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl — a federal probe that ultimately did not yield criminal charges. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16. Greenberg pleaded guilty in May 2021 to several crimes, including the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. Stephen Alford, 62, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, said he could help the Matt Gaetz secure a presidential pardon, authorities said. Matt Gaetz has said the allegations stemmed from the extortion plot.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, “, ”, Angela Weiss, ’, Joel Micah Greenberg, Gaetz’s, Greenberg, scoffed, Don Gaetz, Stephen Alford, Alford, Robert Levinson, Matt Gaetz’s, Biden, Joe Biden, ” “, ” Gaetz Organizations: Justice Department, Capitol, Justice, DOJ, Republican National Convention, Getty, NBC News, “, Politico, Gaetz, FBI, Fort Walton Locations: Florida, Milwaukee, Bahamas, Seminole County , Florida, Fort, Fort Walton Beach , Florida, Iran

☆ Proud Boys are seeking pardons directly from Trump, bypassing the DOJ and, potentially, Matt Gaetz
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The first Proud Boys leaders to seek Capitol riot pardons are instead asking Trump directly. Meanwhile, the Proud Boys want out now, and presidents have the Constitutional power to grant immediate pardons, Biggs attorney Norm Pattis said in a 10-page letter sent to Trump on Wednesday. Two years ago, Biggs and his Proud Boys codefendants had struck a different tone regarding Trump, arguing at trial that he incited the Capitol riot and that the Proud Boys were only following his orders. Advertisement"Mr. President, you are no stranger to prosecutions warped by partisan vendetta," the Biggs pardon letter says. Former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio will also "explore every possible avenue" toward early release, his lawyer, Nayib Hassan, said in a press statement last week.

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump, Joseph Biggs, Matt Gaetz, Tarrio, Gaetz, pic.twitter.com, gGPeTLtWmv, Biggs, Norm Pattis, Pattis, codefendants, Enrique Tarrio, Nayib Hassan, Zachary Rehl, Dominic Pezzola, Prosecutors, Pezzola, Mike Pence Organizations: Boys, Service, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Proud, Manhattan, Trump, Justice, DOJ, Capitol, Proud Boys, Tarrio, Rehl, Capitol Police Locations: Trump, Florida, Afghanistan, Iraq, Washington ,, Philadelphia, Rochester , New York

☆ Matt Gaetz's most controversial moments
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He has also been the subject of multiple House Ethics Committee probes. Related Video House of Representatives tumbles into chaos as fight for new speaker eruptsHere are some of the most controversial moments of Gaetz's career so far:He invited a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union. AdvertisementDemocrats urged the House Ethics Committee to investigate the matter. Advertisement"I'll give you the truth why I'm not speaker," McCarthy said in April 2024. House Ethics Committee probes GatezThe House Ethics Committee opened its probe into Gaetz in 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Washington, Gaetz, —, Donald Trump's, Charles C, Johnson, he's, Michael Cohen, Trump's, Nancy Pelosi's, Trump, Gatez, Joel Greenberg, Greenberg, Harry Potter, Gaetz's, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Rogers of, McCarthy, Rogers, I'm Organizations: Service, Justice Department, Committee, Department, FBI, Drug, Administration, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Union, Daily, Fox Business, Oversight, Twitter, Florida Bar Association, Business, DOJ, Washington Post, Republicans, House Armed Services Committee, House Democrats, Republican National Convention, Times, Florida Republican Locations: Washington, Union ., Gaetz, Florida, Mike Rogers of Alabama, Gatez, loggerheads

☆ Matt Gaetz has a history of going after Big Tech. As Trump's attorney general, he'd be tasked with enforcing antitrust laws.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Gaetz has criticized Big Tech for censoring conservatives and supports antitrust enforcement. Both the Justice Department and the FTC enforce antitrust laws that impact large tech companies. Gaetz has frequently railed against Big Tech, accusing Silicon Valley firms of censoring conservatives. The current Federal Trade Commission chair, Lina Khan, whom Trump may end up replacing, has aggressively gone after Big Tech companies. "But the hurdles for Big Tech could remain elevated," he added.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, —, Trump, Lina Khan, Khan, JD Vance, Mark, Buchanan Ingersoll, Rooney, he's, Isaac Boltansky, Barron's, Kasten, TikTok, George Hay, Hay Organizations: Big Tech, Justice Department, Service, Senate, Florida Republican, Business, FTC, Federal Trade Commission, Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Wall Street Journal, China, Apple, Google, Cornell University Locations: Florida, Silicon, Silicon Valley

Trump’s transition team includes close to 100 people, with some working at Mar-a-Lago and others at the campaign office in Palm Beach and in Washington. Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesInside Trump’s transitionTrump’s transition effort had begun with relatively orthodox choices — including Wiles, who led Trump’s campaign, as chief of staff. Much like his defense secretary pick, Trump had also grown frustrated with his options for attorney general. The role of attorney general has long been viewed by Trump as one of, if not the, most important positions he would fill. CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to properly reflect the process by which Donald Trump considered candidates for attorney general.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz, —, Trump, firebrands —, elect’s, MAGA, ”, “, ” Trump, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Elon Musk, Tesla, he’d, strode, Chris Christie’s, Susie Wiles, Wiles, Donald Trump, Andrew Harnik, Monday Trump, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Gabbard, Steve Bannon, ” Bannon, Donald Trump Jr, Richard Grenell, Rubio, Tony Hinchcliffe denigrated, JD Vance, Vance, Brian Snyder, Department —, Kamala Harris, Mark Paoletta, Andrew Bailey, Justice Department —, Jeff Sessions, William Barr, Department’s, Kevin McCarthy, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Nathan Howard, Gaetz, McCarthy, ” Gaetz, Gaetz’s, “ We’re, ” Johnson, Trump’s, Alaska Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Justice Department . Maine Sen, Susan Collins, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, Thune, Sen, Mike Rounds, ” Rounds, Kaitlan Collins, Annie Grayer, Danya Gainor, Holmes Lybrand, Dana Bash, Haley Talbot, Jeremy Herb, Katie Bo Lillis, Ted Barrett, Manu Raju, Sarah Ferris, Pamela Brown Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Hawaii Democratic, Republican, “, Wednesday, Washington, Hill, South, GOP, Elon, House Republicans, DC, SpaceX, Department of Government, Trump, New, New Jersey Gov, Mar, Hyatt, Monday, Democratic, Army National Guard, US Army Reserve, America, Florida Republican, Tony Hinchcliffe denigrated Puerto Ricans, State Department, Base Andrews, Reuters, Department, Justice Department, White House, Republicans, Capitol, U.S . Capitol, Senate, Justice Department ., Texas, South Dakota Republican Locations: Florida, Washington, South Dakota, Trump’s, New Jersey, Palm Beach, Washington ,, Syria, Russia, Tony Hinchcliffe denigrated Puerto, Madison, Maryland, U.S, Missouri, Manhattan, Trump, Alaska, Justice Department . Maine

☆ Georgia’s Fulton County Jail subjects inmates to ‘inhumane, violent’ conditions that threaten their safety, DOJ finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Ashley R. Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The Fulton County Jail in Atlanta unconstitutionally subjects inmates to “inhumane, violent and hazardous conditions” that threaten their safety, a US Justice Department official said Thursday, announcing the results of a 16-month investigation. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the inhumane, violent and hazardous conditions that people are subjected to inside the Fulton County Jail,” Clarke said. The deaths of Thompson and other inmates in the mental health unitThe 105-page report lays out examples of the problems it alleges, including the treatment of inmates with mental health challenges. Meanwhile, around 75% of the people who have died at the jail since 2021 had a mental health diagnosis or history of mental illness, Buchanan said. “The Fulton County Jail had as many stabbings in a single month as the Miami-Dade County Jail had all year, and that’s a facility with one-and-a-half times more people,” Clarke said.

Persons: ” Kristen Clarke, Lashawn Thompson, “, ” Clarke, Thompson, Kristen Clarke, WANF, ” Ryan Buchanan, ” Buchanan, Michael Harper, ” Harper, Thompson’s, –, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, Buchanan, ”, CNN’s Ryan Young, Nick Valencia, Hannah Rabinowitz, Dakin Andone Organizations: CNN, Jail, US Justice Department, Justice, US, Justice Department, Sheriff’s, Northern, Northern District of, Thompson’s, Fulton County Sheriff, Miami, Department team’s Locations: Fulton, Atlanta, Northern District, Northern District of Georgia, Fulton County, Dade, Union City

☆ The Onion has won the bid for Infowars’ assets
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Satirical news site The Onion won the auction to acquire conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars, which was sold off as part of a defamation settlement after he falsely called the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax. The Onion’s bid was backed by the families of eight victims of school shooting and one first responder. Jones was previously ordered to pay $1.5 billion to families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Jones had used Infowars to spread some of the most disturbing and disgusting lies and conspiracy theories into the public discourse. Though Collins declined to detail the bid amount, he said it was the highest and that the funding came from The Onion itself.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Jones, Sandy Hook, he’s, motorhome, ”, Ben Collins, ” Alex Jones, David J, Phillip, Collins, “ We’re, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Robbie Parker, Emilie, Infowars, Jones ’, Oliver Darcy Organizations: CNN, Elementary, Gun Safety Locations: Sandy, Houston, harm’s

☆ Why Trump is trying to outrage Washington with his controversial Cabinet picks
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s increasingly provocative Cabinet picks have left some Republican senators aghast and Washington in shock. The dismay engulfing establishment elites contrasted with the euphoria rocketing through conservative networks and social media among Trump fans. News that Hegseth had been picked to lead the Pentagon rocked Washington the night before the Gaetz pick and sparked similar questions about Trump’s motives. And she was accused of “parroting” false propaganda from America’s premier espionage adversary, Russia, by no less than Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney. Not all Trump’s picks are contentious.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, aghast, Florida Republican Matt Gaetz —, Justice Department —, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s MAGA, Pete Hegseth, Geraldo Rivera, Gaetz —, Trump, ‘, Anthony Scaramucci, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen, John Fetterman, CNN’s Manu Raju, “, —, Gaetz, Elie Honig, Hegseth, Gabbard, ”, Bashar al, Assad, Utah GOP Sen, Mitt Romney, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Rubio, Alaska Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Maine Sen, Susan Collins, Iowa Republican Sen, Joni Ernst, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Thune, Matt Gaetz, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Republicans — you’re, ” Tuberville, acquiesce Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, Justice Department, Democratic, Fox News, Trump, Senate, Pennsylvania Democratic, Gaetz, FBI, CNN International ., Pentagon, Fox, Defense Department, Utah GOP, GOP, Republican Trump, Iowa Republican, South Dakota, Republican, Republicans, Pennsylvania Senate, Treasury, Health, Human Services, Republican Senate Locations: Washington, Florida, Pennsylvania, Russia, America, Iraq, Afghanistan, Hawaii, Utah, China, Alaska, South, Alabama

☆ What the recall of progressives in the Bay Area says about Asian American views on crime
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The recall last week of two Bay Area officials who both championed progressive crime policies reflects long-held frustrations around a previous increase in violence targeting the Asian American community, experts say. The vote is indicative of Asian Americans’ rightward shift toward tougher crime policies like much of the state, analysts say. From March 2020 to December 2021, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country reported nearly 11,000 hate incidents, including verbal and physical abuse, being coughed at or spat on, and facing discrimination in the workplace. “And a lot of people say, ‘Oh, we’ve moved on from that era.’ I don’t think Asian Americans have,” said James Zarsadiaz, author of “Resisting Change in Suburbia,” whose research focuses on Asian American conservatism. In San Francisco, for example, officials received 60 reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans in 2021, compared with the nine in 2020.

Persons: Sheng Thao, Pamela Price, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Levi Strauss, Daniel Lurie, Chesa Boudin, we’ve, ”, James Zarsadiaz, Russell Jeung, that’s, ” Jeung, “, it’s, Thao, Price, Thao’s, ” Price, Jasper Wu, Price’s, Venus Gist, Zarsadiaz, “ It’s, they’ve, ” Zarsadiaz, “ They’re, there’s Organizations: American, Oakland, Bay Area, San Francisco Mayor London, Democrat, San, Pacific Islanders, San Francisco State University, Oakland Police Department, FBI, NBC, Asian, University of San Locations: Alameda County, Oakland, Bay, San Francisco’s, Americans, California, Alameda, American, San Francisco, University of San Francisco

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to members of the media at the US Department of Justice building in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2023. WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith and his team plan to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, a source familiar with the matter said. The special counsel's office is required under Justice Department regulations to provide a confidential report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who can choose to make it public. Before Trump's re-election last week, Smith and his team had continued moving forward in their election interference case against Trump. The Justice Department indicted Trump last year for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Persons: Jack Smith, WASHINGTON —, Donald Trump, Smith, General Merrick Garland, Trump, Trump's, Smith's, There's Organizations: US Department of Justice, WASHINGTON, Trump, New York Times, Justice, Supreme, Justice Department Locations: Washington ,, Florida, Washington

☆ Elon Musk worries free speech advocates with his calls to prosecute researchers and critics
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( David Ingram | Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

He cited X's increasing compliance with foreign governments' demands to censor content on the platform and the lawsuits against the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Media Matters. X has a pending lawsuit against Media Matters and a pending appeal in a lawsuit that X lost against the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The ACLU, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed an amicus brief in support of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The feud between Musk and the Center for Countering Digital Hate has continued. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also criticized the Center for Countering Digital Hate on Thursday, sending the organization a demand for documents related to the "Kill Musk's Twitter" language.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Anna Moneymaker, Musk, Victoria Nuland, Nadine Strossen, Trump, Strossen, they're, Aaron Terr, Terr, there's, Michael Gerhardt, Chapel Hill, —, X, Charles Breyer, Imran Ahmed, Elon, Ahmed, Jim Jordan Organizations: Republican, State Department, Center, American Civil Liberties Union, New York Law School, SpaceX, Justice Department, Foundation, Rights, Hate, Media, NBC News, NBC, Media Matters, University of North, Chapel, Department, The Justice, District, ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Columbia University, Racket, Federal Government Locations: Butler , Pennsylvania, University of North Carolina, U.S, Ohio

☆ Spirit Airlines shares plunge on bankruptcy speculation
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A Wall Street Journal report Tuesday evening said a bankruptcy filing is expected to happen within weeks, as talks with Frontier Airlines to possibly buy Spirit (SAVE) broke down recently. Because of those discussions, the company said, Spirit is unable able to complete its third-quarter financial report by the prescribed time. While Spirit management tried to move ahead with the Frontier deal, its shareholders rejected the offer and Spirit ultimately agreed to the JetBlue deal instead. It argued such a combination would hurt airline passengers because it would reduce the number of inexpensive airline tickets — putting upward pressure on airfares overall. In January 2024 a federal judge agreed with DOJ’s argument and blocked the JetBlue deal.

Persons: Spirit Organizations: New, New York CNN — Spirit Airlines ’, Frontier Airlines, Securities and Exchange, JetBlue Airways, Spirit, JetBlue, Justice Department, Airbus Locations: New York

“Any disputes Musk has with his critics should play out in the court of public opinion, not a court of law,” Terr said. Musk and representatives at X did not respond to requests for comment on his calls for prosecution. Musk and X have sometimes found allies among members of Congress or state attorneys general who have launched investigations. “The First Amendment obviously protects both Musk and his critics in making public pronouncements about each other,” he said in an email. The feud between Musk and the Center for Countering Digital Hate has continued.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Victoria Nuland, ”, ” Musk, Donald Trump, Nadine Strossen, Trump, Strossen, they’re, ” Aaron Terr, ” Terr, there’s, Michael Gerhardt, Chapel Hill, —, X, Charles Breyer, Imran Ahmed, “ Elon Musk, “, ” Ahmed, Ahmed, Jim Jordan, Travis Brown, Brown, Aaron Greenspan, PlainSite, Greenspan, Jack Sweeney, Sweeney, Taylor Swift, he’s, “ Trump Organizations: State Department, Center, American Civil Liberties Union, New York Law School, “, SpaceX, Justice Department, Foundation, Rights, Hate, Media, NBC News, NBC, Media Matters, University of North, Chapel, Department, The Justice, District, ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Columbia University, Constitution, Racket, Twitter, Federal Government, World Federation, Internet, Wired, Washington Post Locations: University of North Carolina, U.S, Ohio, Texas, San Francisco

Search resuls for: "The Justice"

25 mentions found