NYC gears up to close 25th migrant shelter, cites lower need for care
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city will shut down the Floyd Bennett Field shelter in March 2025. This is the latest closure by the Adams administration, making it the 25th shelter to end its services.
Migrants will be moved out of the shelter by the middle of January.
In a statement, Adams said since its start, the operations have helped countless families.
“More than 170,000 migrants take their next steps on their journeys, because migrants don’t come here to live in our shelter system, they come here to pursue the American Dream.”
Statement by Mayor Adams
In 2022, buses of asylum seekers sought refuge in the city’s five boroughs. Adams’ office stated Floyd Bennett Field served as an integral component to the city’s humanitarian mission.
The mayor’s office also said the city has seen a decrease in the need for migrant shelters over the last 22 weeks. Adams said it shows the city is managing the crisis better than “any other city in the nation.”
He also said executive orders by the Biden administration helped enforce stricter restrictions at the southern border. Adams said it reduced the number of migrants entering the city.
Following the announcement, New York Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said President-elect Donald Trump continues to have an impact on the United States’ migrant crisis and Adams. She stated there were multiple attempts to close the shelter from lawsuits to protests, but all it took was the re-election of Trump.
Speculation has mounted surrounding the shelter for several weeks. Due to its location on federal land, the incoming Trump administration could’ve ended the shelter’s lease.
Adams also announced that his team will look at other shelters to consolidate or close. In October, he announced that the center at Randall’s Island would close in February 2025.
New York AG won’t drop Trump’s multi-million dollar civil fraud penalty
The New York attorney general’s office has rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s attempt to end a multi-million dollar penalty in his civil fraud case. The case went to trial last year, and a New York judge found that Trump and his business had inflated the values of properties on financial statements used to obtain favorable loan and insurance rates.
The judge ordered Trump to pay $454 million, including interest.
Trump appealed, while the appeals court has yet to issue a decision.
Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote in a letter to Trump’s attorney that they denied his call for New York Attorney General Letitia James to drop the case.
“The ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the president’s official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution,” Vale said.
James’ office added that Trump, as president, is not immune from civil cases that are not connected to his official office duties.
Trump’s move is his latest attempt to eliminate his legal cases before he returns to the White House next month.
Special counsel Jack Smith has agreed to dismiss criminal indictments. Those indictments charged Trump with overthrowing the 2020 election and improperly handling classified documents. He cited the Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president.
NY Gov. Hochul pitches $500 inflation checks as her popularity suffers
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, wants to send inflation checks to millions of New Yorkers. Under her proposed budget for next year, the state would send $500 checks to families making up to $300,000, while individuals making up to $150,000 would receive $300.
“We’re told inflation is getting better,” Hochul said during the policy announcement. “It’s supposedly coming down. But let me ask this question: Do any of you feel like you have more money in your pockets today? No, no, no, I didn’t think so.”
The total cost of the proposed inflation rebates is $3 billion. Gov. Hochul said the state received a windfall in that amount after higher prices brought in more sales tax revenue than expected.
“I’m sure there are some elected officials or some special interest groups will weigh in and say, ‘Oh, I know how that extra money should be spent,’” Hochul said. “But here’s my message: I’m on your side. I believe that this extra inflation-driven sales tax revenue shouldn’t be spent by the state. It’s your money, and it should be back in your pockets.”
Costs are high, and New Yorkers are feeling the strain on their wallets.
I want to give families making less than $300,000 an Inflation Refund check for $500.
If passed by the state Legislature, checks would go out in the fall of 2025. Her announcement comes as Hochul deals with a popularity issue and a potential Democratic challenger to her seat.
In a new Siena College poll out Tuesday, Dec. 10, only 39% of New Yorkers said they have a favorable opinion of Gov. Hochul, who is up for reelection in 2026.
Only a third of respondents said they would reelect her, while 57% said they’d prefer someone else. Narrowing it down to just Democrats, 48% said they would vote to reelect Hochul.
In the same poll, New York voters said the top priority for state government to address is the cost of living.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres, D, is weighing a potential primary challenge to Hochul.
He posted on X, “A one-time check will not compensate for the double-digit increases in inflation that New Yorkers have suffered during the Governorship of Kathy Hochul. For three years, the Governor has ignored the millions of New York families crippled by the crushing cost of groceries and gasoline.”
Haunted by the specter of a primary challenge, Governor Hochul is proposing an “inflation refund.” A one-time check will not compensate for the double-digit increases in inflation that New Yorkers have suffered during the Governorship of Kathy Hochul. For three years, the…
‘MAGA celebrates,’ ‘liberals rage’: Media coverage of Daniel Penny’s acquittal
Daniel Penny has been found not guilty by a jury in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely. The case has sparked widespread analysis in the media, with discussions highlighting a divide over the verdict.
Contrasting headlines reflect the political nature of the case:
CNN: “Why Some MAGA Allies Are Celebrating Daniel Penny’s Acquittal”
Fox News: “Liberals Rage After Daniel Penny Acquitted”
New York attorneys and media analysts from both sides weighed in on a CNN panel. Some argued for Penny’s conviction, while others believed the jury reached the right decision in acquitting him.
“It’s not reasonable to kill somebody for yelling,” Solomon Jones, columnist, said. “He was yelling on the subway… all they knew is that he was yelling on the subway, 140 pounds wet, he was unarmed, there was no way he was going to kill somebody.”
“It doesn’t give you a free pass to kill someone because you hear someone is mentally ill,” Bernarda Villalona, criminal defense attorney, said on the panel.
“People on the left can’t seem to tell a difference between the good guys and the bad guys,” Scott Jennings, CNN senior political commentator, said.
The debate over whether race played a role in the case also emerged among panelists. Conservative and moderate hosts among multiple outlets generally believed race was not a factor. However, those with more progressive views argued it was.
“I’m gonna say the dreaded ‘r’ word, race plays a role in this,” Jones stated. “Statistics say that when people kill people who are white, they get harsher sentences, especially if they are people of color.”
Those who disagreed with racializing the case, like Emily Compagno of Fox News, argued that “the jury saw no color in this trial.”
“Those that are racializing this or protesting, to me, do not represent in any way what occurred on that subway,” Compagno said.
The post-trial debate also revolved around whether Penny should be viewed as a hero. Conservative and moderate hosts largely supported the idea, while others rejected it.
“I want to know whether you think, as Congressman Crane does, that Penny should get the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism,” one panelist asked.
“I think he ought to get the medal and I think we ought to build a statue of this guy in New York City,” Jennings said.
In May 2023, Daniel Penny placed Jordan Neely, a homeless man, into a chokehold on a New York City subway. Witnesses said Neely was acting erratically and threatening passengers. Penny, a former Marine, restrained Neely for about six minutes, and Neely later died.
The prosecution argued that the chokehold led to Neely’s death, charging Penny with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
Penny’s legal team claimed self-defense. His defense stated he was protecting himself and other passengers from a mentally ill man making alarming threats. The defense suggested that Neely’s death was the result of a combination of drugs and mental illness.
The judge dismissed a manslaughter charge against Penny last week after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. On Monday, Dec. 9, the jury found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
The man accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a New York City sidewalk is charged with murder. And the Biden administration levels allegations of war crimes against two Syrians who were high-raking members of the now ousted regime. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
After nearly a week of searching, the manhunt for the suspected gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel last week is over. Police said they located the 26-year-old suspect inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 300 miles from New York on Monday, Dec. 9.
The New York City Police Department filed first-degree murder charges against Luigi Mangione, according to court documents released Monday night. Mangione also faces charges of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged driver’s license, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Mangione is described as a former high school valedictorian and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who grew up in Maryland but has also had past addresses in California and Hawaii.
Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona after authorities said a McDonald’s employee recognized him as the person of interest seen in images related to Thompson’s shooting death.
When police arrived on the scene, they questioned Mangione. According to court documents, Mangione “started to shake” when asked if he’d recently been in New York City. Authorities said at first, he lied about his identity.
So proud of @NYPDMTN Detectives, and our Major Case and Homicide Squads, who worked around-the-clock on the homicide investigation in Midtown. I joined them last night to thank them for their dedication. No doubt, their work was instrumental to identifying the person of interest… pic.twitter.com/jAFA7JDcHd
Court documents show he was carrying a black 3-D printed pistol with a silencer. The NYPD said the “ghost gun” found on him was consistent with the one used in the murder. Ghost guns do not have serial numbers.
Police said Mangione also had on him a fake ID, matching the one used by the suspect at a New York City hostel before the shooting, and a three-page written note.
“That document is currently in the possession of the Altoona Police Department as part of their investigation but just from briefly speaking with them, we don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document, but it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said.
Multiple reports Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, claimed those writings included the phrases “these parasites had it coming” and it “had to be done.”
During a press conference Monday evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) spoke of how the killing has led to some people online sharing their frustrations and anger over the healthcare system but emphasized that Mangione is not a martyr.
“In some dark corners, this killer’s being hailed as a hero,” Shapiro said. “Hear me on this: he is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this [Monday] morning. The real heroes every day in our society are the women and men who put on uniforms like these and go out in our communities to keep us safe. This killer is not a hero. He should not be hailed.”
Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania pending his extradition to New York, which is expected to take place later this week.
Jury finds former US Marine not guilty in NYC chokehold death trial
Tensions remain high in New York after a jury acquitted U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny of all charges on Monday, including criminally negligent homicide, in the chokehold death of a schizophrenic man, whose behavior had some people on the New York subway testifying they feared for their lives.
The caught-on-camera deadly incident from May 2023 saw Penny put Jordan Neely in a chokehold from behind after Neely walked up and down the F train saying “somebody is going to die today”.
Prosecutors said the chokehold lasted too long, was reckless, and resulted in the 30-year-old homeless man’s death. The defense brought an expert in to show Neely was under the influence of the synthetic marijuana drug K2, arguing he died from drug use and a previous medical condition.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, fights broke out as protesters and counter-protesters clashed. After the verdict Neely’s father stated, “There is no justice.”
US charges 2 former Syrian officials with war crimes
The United States has charged two former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officials with war crimes. The DOJ said during Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud oversaw operations of a detention facility where Americans and civilians who had been deemed enemies of the state were tortured.
In other developments in the Middle East, the U.S. has also sent a special envoy to Beirut, Lebanon to find out what happened to Austin Tice. Tice is an American journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago.
"We have heard from sources that have been vetted by the U.S. government that Austin is alive." Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for 12 years. Today his brother & sister tell me "every day is a day that Austin should be released and a day that Austin could be released." pic.twitter.com/o08OgOFKEm
On Sunday, Dec. 8, President Joe Biden said he believes Tice is still alive and his administration is committed to bringing him home. Syria has publicly denied holding Tice.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a large-scale attack on Syria, striking what it called strategic military sites after the fall of the al-Assad government. It also expanded its presence into the Golan Heights, a buffer zone along the country’s border with Syria.
Israel claimed the move is temporary and aimed at ensuring nearby areas are not exposed to any potential security threats, but Iran has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, saying the expansion is a “flagrant violation” of U.N. charter, breaking a 50-year cease-fire agreement.
Hegseth looks to shore up Senate support on Capitol Hill
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary is back on Capitol Hill this week. He’s looking to shore up support from Senate Republicans.
Pete Hegseth met with Senators Joni Ernst and Lindsey Graham on Monday. Both had expressed concerns over allegations against Hegseth of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities and excessive drinking.
Hegseth denies a lot of it and says he is changed man. He served in the Army in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lord & Taylor to relaunch as online discount luxury retailer
Another department store chain is set to make an internet comeback. Lord & Taylor is set to relaunch in 2025 as a discount luxury e-commerce platform offering designer goods and Lord & Taylor-branded products, according to its new owner.
Regal Brands Global acquired the Lord & Taylor intellectual property in September after its previous owner, Saadia Group — which had re-launched the chain as an e-commerce website in 2021 — ceased operations.
Regal Brands reportedly aims to position Lord & Taylor products to compete with other high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
‘Emilia Perez’ receives most Golden Globe nominations
‘Strong person of interest’ in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO arrested
The New York City Police Department confirmed Monday, Dec. 9, that officials arrested a “strong person of interest” in connection to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Officials named 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as the only person of interest in the case.
Police took Mangione into custody after receiving a tip that he was spotted in Pennsylvania.
Mangione carried a ghost gun, resembling the weapon used to kill Thompson, Pennsylvania police said.
“At this time, he is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare last Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters.
Handwritten letter reveals motive
The Altoona Police Department in Pennsylvania confiscated multiple fake IDs and a three-page handwritten document from Mangione.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the document showed Mangione had “ill will toward corporate America.”
Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that social media profiles showed Mangione graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
His apparent account on book review site GoodReads includes a positive review for the manifesto of “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.
Brian Thomspon’s killing
Police described Thompson’s shooting as a targeted attack, with footage showing a shooter waiting for the CEO.
The shooting occurred early Wednesday, Dec. 4. Surveillance tracked the suspect’s escape through Midtown Manhattan and into Central Park. The suspect temporarily hid in the park and found his way out of the city, police said.
Bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting had etchings of the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” The first two are part of a common phrase describing insurance companies’ approach to avoid paying claims.
Police said the suspect acted alone based on the confiscated letter.
NYC mayor looks to change sanctuary law, bypass city council opposition
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is exploring ways to get around current laws to deport undocumented immigrants. Adams said he may issue an emergency order to suspend the city’s sanctuary law, bypassing New York City Council opposition.
Adams said during a Sunday appearance on CBS’s “The Point with Marcia Kramer” that he’s willing to follow the order to uphold public safety.
“The City Council made it clear they don’t want to change that,” Adams said. “They stated they’re not willing to change the sanctuary city law. I think they’re wrong. I have my teams looking at my power as executive orders.”
“We have to deal with the small number of violent offenders who are making their way into our country. In particular, it’s a very dangerous Venezuelan gang. It is not the overwhelming number of migrants and asylum seekers,” Adams said.
The decades-old law has bound The Big Apple since the 1980’s. The law, enshrined in 2014, protects undocumented individuals from federal intervention unless they are convicted of a serious crime. Concerns arose that undocumented residents might face deportation when reporting crimes or seeking medical assistance.
The protections prevent city resources from working with agencies to deport undocumented immigrants. Under the law, only U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can arrest noncitizens.
City police cannot prevent a deportation from occurring.
A proposal from Adams would open the door for more cooperation with ICE agents and change the city’s sanctuary law. It’s something the majority of the city council opposed.
“What the law does is ensure there is due process,” said city council member Alexa Avilés.
Adams said, “Once the city council made it clear we’re not changing the sanctuary city laws to allow ICE to go after those dangerous offenders; once they made that clear, I went to plan B and said, ‘What are my options and my powers?’”
A city hall spokesperson said only the council has the power to revoke the policies, and if the mayor tries, he would be breaking the current law.
Adams is preparing to meet with Trump’s incoming Border Czar, Tom Homan, about New York’s estimated 400,000 migrant population.
The mayor said the city spent billions of dollars to feed and house the growing population across all five boroughs.
“People would demonize me because I’m trying to be honest, and I’m not going to try to find the right soundbite when I know what happens when you don’t do right for everyday people,” Adams said.
The mayor’s recent comments have faced resistance from city leaders and lawmakers. Many said Adams had supported the sanctuary law but recently changed his stance.
City Council member Robert Holden, D-Queens, said the mayor could have amended current laws but chose not to.
“Tough talk is good, but actions speak louder,” Holden said.
Jurors deliberated over whether Penny committed criminally negligent homicide when he put Neely in a chokehold on a New York City subway in May 2023.
The jury had been deadlocked on another charge of manslaughter last week, but at the request of prosecutors on Friday, Dec. 6, Judge Maxwell Wiley dropped the second-degree manslaughter charge and ordered the jury to focus on the lesser charge of negligent homicide.
Both were felony charges and carried with them years behind bars if Penny were to be convicted.
Prosecutors accused Penny of killing Neely when he placed him in a six-minute chokehold, and the city’s medical examiner said Penny’s chokehold killed Neely.
However, the defense contended Neely died from drug use and a previous medical condition.
Penny’s lawyers said he meant to save subway passengers from Neely, who witnesses say was acting erratically and yelling when he entered the subway.
Prosecutors argued Penny acted with too much force against Neely, who had schizophrenia.
The case has been subject to protests among advocates for a guilty verdict and advocates for a not-guilty verdict.
Fox News reports that before deliberations began on Monday, demonstrators for and against Penny’s acquittal argued outside of the courthouse.
The noise from the protests outside could reportedly be heard inside the courtroom, and Penny’s lawyers argued they could be viewed as threats against the jury, citing statements from protesters like, “If we don’t get no justice, we don’t get no peace.”
Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Dafna Yoran responded by saying, “There were no threats to the jury.”
Judge Wiley said he would allow the jury to continue deliberations. However, he noted, if there were any more interruptions, he would call both legal teams back to the bench.
Neely’s father told reporters after the verdicts outside the courthouse that he believed the “system is rigged,” but called on everyone upset with the verdict to “help one person,” adding, “that’s how we beat the system.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Penny, like former public defender Maud Maron told Fox News that jurors “got it right” and asserted Penny should have never been facing charges in the first place.
Jay-Z responds after being accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside ‘Diddy’
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, Dec. 8, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter. The suit also said “another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor.” That celebrity has not yet been named.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyoncé, denied the accusation in a statement posted to his Roc Nation X account directed at Tony Buzbee, the attorney who filed the suit.
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” Jay-Z wrote. “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle.
“No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!
“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Jay-Z mentioned how his family would be affected by this suit.
“My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age,” Jay-Z wrote.
In a statement, Buzzbee wrote, “The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.”
Buzbee also posted a longer response on his Instagram account Sunday, Dec. 8, saying, “People will see through this effort to discredit me and my clients and the truth will be revealed. I also won’t allow anyone to scare my clients into silence. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and I am quite certain the sun is coming.”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
Syrian rebels oust dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country after nearly 25 years in power. And the suspected killer of a health care CEO in New York City is still at-large after eluding a massive manhunt for almost a week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
It’s the dawn of a new era in Syria. After more than a decade of civil war in the country, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after rebel groups overtook the capital in a coup on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Now Syria and its people are left with the question of what comes next as countries around the world, including the United States, react to the changing landscape.
Syrians could be seen celebrating in the streets as word spread that Assad had fled the country. State media reported the president and his family landed in Russia Sunday evening and Assad has been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The toppled leader, who had been in power since 2000 and whose family had ruled for five decades, was forced to vacate after rebel forces quickly captured city after city leading to them taking control of Damascus.
Since the civil war broke out in the wake of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, Assad’s forces have been accused of brutal severe human rights violations, including using chemical weapons against their people. They’ve been held responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and the displacement of millions of others.
The rebels who led to Assad’s ouster were headed by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jolani called the coup “a victory for the whole Islamic nation.”
Jolani’s group used to be linked to Al Qaeda. Though it has cut those ties, the U.S. still designates it a terrorist group.
President Joe Biden spoke from the White House Sunday, calling the end of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice.” Biden added the U.S. will support Syria’s neighbors Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq should any threat arise from this period of transition.
Biden referred to this as a time of “risk and uncertainty.”
“We will remain vigilante. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions.”
Biden said Assad’s downfall came in part due to allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah being weaker today than when Biden began his term.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday, saying Iran and Russia are in weakened states right now and calling for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, in a post on Saturday, Dec. 7, Trump said the U.S. should not get involved with Syria, saying, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”
Iran’s president said it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.
Amid the time of transition in Syria, the U.S. showed it will continue its efforts against ISIS in the region. U.S. Central Command said it launched a series of airstrikes Sunday targeting ISIS camps and leaders in central Syria, confirming 75 “targets” had been hit. U.S. officials said it will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria.
Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on first day in office
In his first network TV interview since winning the election, President-elect Trump touched on some of his biggest campaign promises and his plans to start following through with them immediately when he takes office in January.
In an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “A lot of it will have to do with economics. A lot’s gonna do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border. We’re gonna immediately strengthen up the border and do a real job.”
Trump also doubled down on his promise to pardon Americans jailed for their role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they had no other choice than to plead guilty. Department of Justice records show more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with that attack and nearly 900 have pleaded guilty.
While Trump said he will not tell his nominees for FBI director and attorney general to go after his political rivals, he did share his opinion on what should happen to lawmakers who were on the House’s select committee to investigate January 6.
“Everybody on that committee, for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
After that interview, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was on the committee, issued a statement saying, “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Trump did reiterate multiple times during Sunday’s interview he has no plans to go after political rivals, but as we’ve reported here at Straight Arrow News, President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Cheney and others who were part of the House Jan. 6 investigation, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Police release new images of suspect in NYC deadly shooting
The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson enters a new week.
Over the weekend, the NYPD released new images of the apparent suspect. Police identify the man in the pictures as “a person of interest” wanted for questioning for the fatal shooting outside a Hilton hotel Wednesday, Dec. 4.
One image shows the masked man in the back of a taxi. Another shows him walking on the sidewalk outside a vehicle. Police are hoping these images, along with others released last week, will help lead to the gunman.
Authorities reportedly traveled to Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 7, and have been searching a lake near Central Park. On Friday night, Dec. 6, reports said investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the shooter. Inside they found two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.
Jay-Z accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce, denied the accusation and said in a statement directed at the attorney who filed the suit, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, The Apollo
President Biden was among those in attendance — a tradition President Trump did not continue during his first term in office, saying he did not want to be a political distraction as some attendees had threatened to boycott his appearance. As Trump gets ready to start his second term in office, there are questions about whether federal funding for the arts might be on the chopping block.
Reports: Juan Soto, Mets agree on largest contract in pro sports history
Former New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is staying in the Big Apple, but moving leagues in reportedly the largest deal in professional sports history.
But should Soto decide not to opt out, his pay will reportedly go up an extra $4 million a year for the remainder of the deal — meaning in the end, this could be an over $800 million deal.
The agreement also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. Soto’s deal surpasses the record set just last year by Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract.
Note: The headline has been corrected to Assad. A previous version had the incorrect name.