Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., is expected to be arraigned in federal court today on undisclosed charges following an FBI investigation. And Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay out $215 million to nearly 3,000 plaintiffs to settle a long-standing gender discrimination class-action lawsuit. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Santos to appear in federal court
Rep. George Santos is set to appear in federal court Wednesday, May 10, where he is expected to be arraigned following charges filed against him by the Department of Justice.
Santos has been charged on a 13-count indictment, including seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.
The FBI has been conducting an investigation into Santos since he assumed office in January, focusing on his campaign finances.
The Republican congressman has faced scrutiny over allegations of embellishing his background, including aspects related to his heritage, family history, and educational and employment background. During his campaign, Santos raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, which has also been under investigation by authorities.
If Santos is convicted, there could be implications for his participation in votes on the House floor. Depending on the severity of the charges and their outcomes, he could potentially be barred from voting. However, if he chooses not to resign, the process of expulsion would require a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives.
Trump found liable for sexual abuse, defamation
A jury in New York has delivered a verdict in the civil trial brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll against former President Donald Trump. The jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, while clearing him of the charge of rape. As a result, Carroll has been awarded $5 million in damages.
“I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth,” Carroll said in a statement. “This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.”
Following the verdict, Trump expressed his intention to appeal the decision. He took to social media, posting a video where he referred to the verdict as “a disgrace” and characterized it as a continuation of what he called “the greatest witch hunt of all time.”
“He’s firm in his belief, as many people are, that he cannot get a fair trial in New York City based on the jury pool,” Trump attorney Joe Tacopnia said. “And I think one could argue that that’s probably an accurate assessment based on what happened today.”
The trial centered on allegations made by Carroll, a former writer for Elle magazine who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a dressing room of a high-end New York City department store in the 1990s. In addition to the sexual abuse claim, Carroll also accused Trump of defaming her by publicly denying the incident and making disparaging remarks about her.
The jury’s decision to hold Trump liable for defamation suggests that they found his public statements about Carroll to be false and damaging to her reputation. However, they did not find sufficient evidence to support the rape allegation.
Kansas City considers sanctuary status for gender-affirming care
A Kansas City council committee is set to consider a resolution today that would designate the city as a sanctuary for gender-affirming care. The proposed resolution states that the city would refrain from prosecuting or imposing fines on individuals who receive or provide gender-affirming treatments, which may include puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries.
“There comes a time when you have to speak up and say to our LGTBQ residents, especially children, who are wondering if their city and state are accepting of them, we have to stand up right now and say, ‘Yes, you are welcome in Kansas City, we will protect you,’” council member Andrea Bough, who co-sponsored the resolution with Mayor Quinton Lucas and councilman Eric Bunch, said.
The resolution also aims to establish that potential future prosecuting cases related to gender-affirming care would be considered the “lowest priority” by Kansas City personnel if a ban on such procedures were to be enacted in the state.
Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City are actively supporting the proposal. This comes at a time when the state’s attorney general is pushing for a law that restricts gender-affirming procedures for both adults and children. However, the implementation of this law has been temporarily blocked by a judge.
The committee will vote today on the resolution regarding Kansas City’s sanctuary status for for gender-affirming care, and if it passes, it will move forward to the city council for a vote tomorrow.
Goldman Sachs to pay $215 million in gender discrimination lawsuit
Goldman Sachs, a global financial institution, has reached an agreement to pay $215 million to settle a long-standing class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, initiated in 2010, accused the company of gender discrimination by systematically underpaying and undervaluing its female employees.
The settlement covers about 2,800 female associates and vice presidents across various divisions at Goldman Sachs. Their average payout could amount to about $47,000 after deducting legal fees and costs, and court approval is required.
Had the case not reached a settlement, it would have proceeded to trial next month. As part of the settlement, Goldman Sachs has committed to hiring external firms to conduct analyses of its promotion practices and identify potential pay gaps.
Kelly Dermody, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said they believed the settlement provided “substantial, certain recoveries for all class members and advances gender equity at Goldman.”
Tucker Carlson to launch new show on Twitter
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has announced that his show will be making a comeback soon, but with a twist—it will be on a new platform, Twitter.
“Starting soon we’ll be bringing a new version of the show we’ve been doing for the last six and a half years to Twitter,” said Carlson in a video announcement. “We bring some other things too, which we’ll tell you about. But for now we’re just grateful to be here. Free speech is the main right that you have. Without it, you have no others.”
This announcement comes two weeks after Carlson was ousted by Fox. With this new show now in the works, conservative media personality’s lawyers sent a letter to Fox News, accusing the network of “fraud” and “breach of contract.”
Carlson’s contract with Fox includes a non-compete clause, which means he cannot start a competing show elsewhere unless cause is found to invalidate that agreement. The network reportedly intends to continue paying him, which would effectively prevent him from hosting a show until January 2025.
While Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted that there has not been a deal struck between him and Carlson, he expressed his openness to the idea of Carlson’s comeback on Twitter.
“On this platform, unlike the one-way street of broadcast, people are able to interact, critique and refute whatever he or anyone may say,” Musk tweeted. “I also want to be clear that we have not signed a deal of any kind whatsoever. Tucker is subject to the same rules & rewards of all content creators … I hope that many others, particularly from the left, also choose to be content creators on this platform.”
History made at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
In a historic win at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the most prestigious dog show in the United States, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has claimed the top prize for the first time. This victory marks a significant milestone for the breed, as the winning dog Buddy Holly, named in tribute to the late rock ‘n’ roll legend, bested six other finalists to garner the most prestigious dog show award.
“I never thought a PBGV would do this,” handler and co-owner Janice Hayes said. “Buddy Holly is the epitome of a show dog. Nothing bothers him.”
Despite the intense competition and high stakes of the finals, Buddy Holly appeared calm and composed, displaying the experience gained from participating in dog shows across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
Over 2,500 dogs representing 200 different breeds competed for the coveted top spot at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The event brought together an impressive array of diverse breeds, each showcasing their unique characteristics and qualities.