Vivek Ramaswamy to join Trump in Manhattan court on Tuesday
Vivek Ramaswamy, the multimillionaire former biotech executive and former presidential candidate, will join former President Donald Trump Tuesday in court. He will spend the entire day with Trump as the former president’s criminal trial continues, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy confirmed to Fox News Digital. “The best proof that the Trump trial is a sham: if DJT had done the exact *opposite* of the alleged crime, they’d still be prosecuting him & have an even stronger case,” Ramaswamy said in a statement. This story is breaking. Please check back for updates.
Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery case
Irada Akhoundova pleaded guilty to facilitating a $60,000 payment to Imelda Cueller, the congressman’s wife, that she believed would benefit Azerbaijan and its state-run oil company.
Trump blasts ‘highly conflicted’ judge after Michael Cohen’s first day of testimony wraps
Former President Donald Trump slammed Judge Juan Merchan as “highly conflicted” after Michael Cohen wrapped up his first day of witness testimony in the NY v. Trump trial Monday. “We have a corrupt judge, and we have a judge who is highly conflicted, and he’s keeping me from campaigning,” Trump said outside of the courtroom. “He’s an appointed New York judge. He’s appointed. You know who appointed him? Democrat politicians. He’s appointed. He’s a corrupt judge and he’s a conflicted judge. And he ought to let us go out and campaign and get rid of this scam.” “This day is truly going to go down as a day of infamy for the New York legal system, which … the whole world is laughing now at the New York weaponized legal system,” Trump added. Trump has repeatedly slammed Merchan as “conflicted” and politically biased, including railing against him on Truth Social ahead of the trial, when he called on the judge to recuse himself, citing Merchan’s daughter and her work as a political consultant for Democratic politicians. MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES HE SECRETLY RECORDED TRUMP IN LEAD-UP TO 2016 ELECTION Fox News Digital reached out to the New York state court system for comment. “Judge Juan Merchan, who is suffering from an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (whose daughter represents Crooked Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, and other Radical Liberals, has just posted a picture of me behind bars, her obvious goal, and makes it completely impossible for me to get a fair trial) has now issued another illegal, un-American, unConstitutional ‘order,’ as he continues to try and take away my Rights,” Trump posted on Truth Social in March after he was given a gag order limiting what he could publicly say about the case. Trump has since slammed Merchan for the gag order, including after the New York judge fined Trump $10,000 for violating the order 10 times. Merchan warned Trump that if he continued violating the order, he could be tossed in jail, which Trump said is a “sacrifice” he’s willing to make. “I have to watch every word I tell you people. You ask me a question, a simple question I’d like to give it, but I can’t talk about it because this judge has given me a gag order and [says] you’ll go to jail if you violate it,” Trump said in remarks earlier this month. “And frankly, you know what? Our Constitution is much more important than jail. It’s not even close. I’ll do that sacrifice any day.” TRUMP, DEFENDERS SHOW UP IN FORCE AHEAD OF COHEN TESTIMONY Monday was an action-packed day in court, hearing testimony for the first time from former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen. The case focuses on Cohen paying former pornographic actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair she had with the then-real estate tycoon in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels. Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit or conceal a second crime. MICHAEL COHEN’S CREDIBILITY ISSUES, BRAZEN TIKTOK USAGE RAISE MEDIA EYEBROWS AHEAD OF TESTIMONY Cohen took the stand Monday morning, where he detailed to the court that he spent his own funds to pay Daniels $130,000 in order to execute a non-disclosure agreement and obtain rights to her claims of the affair. In October 2016, according to Cohen’s testimony, he told Trump that Daniels must be paid in order to quiet her claims ahead of Election Day the following month. He testified that he spoke with Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg about how to fund the payment, with Weisselberg saying he was not in a position to initially foot the bill. MICHAEL COHEN EXPECTED TO TAKE THE STAND AS NY V. TRUMP TRIAL RESUMES “I ultimately said, ‘OK, I’ll pay it,’” Cohen testified, noting the urgency behind the matter as the election was just days away. Cohen said he did not discuss the matter with his wife, and decided to gather funds through a home equity line of credit instead of drawing the money from his personal account. MASSIVE TRUMP BEACH RALLY IN DEEP-BLUE NJ DRAWS STARK CONTRAST TO BIDEN’S BEACH WEEKEND: ‘BIDEN COULD NEVER’ “My wife was CEO of the household, [she] would not understand $130,000 missing from our joint account,” he said. Cohen’s testimony also included detailing that he secretly recorded Trump in 2016 regarding another payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal. McDougal also claimed having an affair with Trump in 2006, which the 45th president has repeatedly denied. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker purchased exclusive rights to her story to bury the claims ahead of the 2016 election, according to trial testimony. Cohen said he secretly recorded Trump in September of 2016 to share with Pecker as proof Trump planned to reimburse Pecker for purchasing the potentially damaging story, according to the testimony. Cohen added that in addition to easing Pecker’s mind that he would be repaid, he also made the recording in order to keep Pecker “loyal” to Trump. Cohen said Trump was unaware he was being recorded at the time. Cohen is anticipated to return to the stand Tuesday morning, when court will begin at 9:30 am.
Maine Gov. Mills declines to remove embattled sheriff from office
Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Monday declined to take the rare step of removing a sheriff accused of improprieties including the transfer of guns from an evidence locker to a gun dealer without proper documentation. Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright was also accused of failing to ensure proper certifications were in place for school resource officers and of urging a deputy to go easy on someone stopped for a traffic infraction. Mills said she concluded the evidence didn’t constitute the high hurdle of “extraordinary circumstances” necessary for removing a sheriff from office for the first time since 1926. “My decision here should not be viewed as a vindication of Sheriff Wainwright,” she wrote. “The hearing record shows that he has made mistakes and acted intemperately on occasion.” Oxford County commissioners in February asked Mills to remove Wainwright. Under the Maine Constitution, the governor is the only person who can remove sheriffs, who are elected. In her decision, Mills concluded the school resource officer paperwork issue dated back to the previous sheriff and that there was no evidence that Wainwright benefited personally from the gun transaction. She also concluded that his underlying request for a deputy to go easy on an acquaintance whose sister was suffering from cancer was not unlawful or unethical. She said the sheriff’s reaction to a deputy questioning his intervention — cursing and chastising the deputy — was wrong but didn’t constitute a pattern of conduct.
Illegal immigrant captured in Northeast US is wanted for ‘very serious crimes’ in home country
A Colombian national who was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Massachusetts this week, and is wanted in his home country for aggravated homicide, was released into the U.S. last year. The unnamed 49-year-old national was arrested in Colombia in 2014 and charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated theft and possession of a weapon. He was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2016. But in a press release, ICE said he was apprehended by Border Patrol near San Luis, Arizona, in November 2023 after entering illegally. But he was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge and released into the U.S. on his own recognizance. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES LIMITED RULE TO MORE QUICKLY REMOVE NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) operations in Boston arrested him in Pittsfield on May 6, and he will now remain in custody, ICE said. “This Colombian national is wanted in his home country for some very serious crimes,” ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. “He attempted to hide out in Massachusetts, and now he will have to answer for his actions,” he said. “ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by aggressively apprehending and removing the most egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England neighborhoods.” TAXPAYER-FUNDED ID PROGRAM FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER The news of the arrest comes days after the Biden administration announced a narrow new rule that would allow officials to remove some illegal immigrants considered a public safety or national security threat much earlier in the asylum process. The rule would allow statutory denials to asylum typically applied later in the asylum process to be applied earlier at the initial screening process, which typically happens within days of someone arriving at the border. It would apply to those considered a risk to national security, including terrorists, or public safety. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) senior official who briefed reporters noted it would likely only affect a small population but said it would be “an important additional tool in our toolbox that will allow us to remove individuals much more quickly who may pose a risk to the United States, enhancing our security at the border, while at the same time saving taxpayer money.” Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.
How a Denton divorce could imperil IVF access in Texas
The Texas Supreme Court is considering taking up the question of whether frozen embryos should be treated as people, not property, in a divorce case.
Democratic Indiana state Rep. Rita Fleming retires after primary win
Indiana state Rep. Rita Fleming announced Monday that she is retiring, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. The Democratic lawmaker from Jeffersonville in southern Indiana was first elected to the statehouse in 2018. Fleming’s statement said she is leaving office immediately. “I have 15 grandchildren, and they and the rest of my family are my priority,” Fleming said in a statement. “Legislative sessions are long up at the Statehouse in Indianapolis and it takes a lot of work to properly represent House District 71.” INDIANA REP. SPARTZ FENDS OFF GOP PRIMARY CHALLENGERS IN BID TO RETAIN HOUSE SEAT Fleming was facing a rematch in the general election against Republican Scott Hawkins, who she narrowly beat in 2022 by a margin of about one point. A caucus will chose her replacement on the November ballot. Fleming was the the ranking minority member of the insurance committee and served on the natural resources and public health committees. A retired obstetrician-gynecologist, Fleming is known for authoring and backing legislation related to reproductive healthcare, including a 2022 law that prohibits the shackling of inmates during labor and delivery. This year, she authored a bill requiring hospitals to offer postpartum Medicaid patients birth control. Democrats became divided over it after a committee removed the option to offer intrauterine devices or IUDs. The final law signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb requires hospitals to offer those patients a subdermal contraceptive arm implant birth control option after giving birth. “As a retired physician with decades of experience under her belt, Rita’s empathy, care and firsthand insights helped her improve Indiana’s public health and healthcare policy,” House Democratic leader state Rep. Phil GiaQuinta said in a statement.
Biden torched by Republicans for tougher immigration rule ahead of November election
Republicans slammed President Biden for a newly proposed Department of Homeland Security rule that they claim is just an election-year move to help him in a close match with former President Trump. “Biden is announcing these new rules on criminal migrants because they have released migrants with links to terrorism into America and are now scrambling to cover themselves in case we have an attack before the election,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on X, formerly Twitter. DHS announced the proposed rule change, which would move up “statutory bars to asylum” in the evaluation process, last week. DEMS PLAN TO REVIVE BORDER BILL REJECTED BY REPUBLICANS AHEAD OF NOVEMBER ELECTION A DHS official told Fox News Digital that the proposed rule would not change any eligibility standards but would only move the assessment of security threats up in the process. “This rule would enable DHS to more quickly remove those who are subject to the bars and pose a risk to our national security or public safety,” read a press release from the department. “During his first 100 days, President Biden took 94 executive actions to OPEN the border,” wrote Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., on X. “Now, just months before an election, he finally took an obvious step that should have been taken years ago.” She called the move “small and necessary,” but claimed, “It does nothing to address the larger border crisis he created.” SCHUMER MAY LET CONTROVERSIAL BIDEN NOMINEE WITH ‘PROBLEMATIC’ TIES QUIETLY EXPIRE: EXPERT This sentiment was echoed by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who said on X: “Less than 6 months before an election, he is attempting 1 small change the narrative on our chaotic border – they already have the authority to do so much more, but they won’t.” The White House did not provide comment to Fox News Digital over the criticism. VULNERABLE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BACKS LAKEN RILEY IMMIGRATION BILL AHEAD OF TOUGH RE-ELECTION IN RED STATE While Republicans were suspicious of the Biden administration’s motivations for the change, not every Democrat was happy with it either. An advocate for the rights of asylum-seekers, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said on X: “I’m closely reviewing the Administration’s proposed rule. Concerned that moving the asylum bars to the initial credible fear interview stage risks returning legitimate asylum seekers to danger.” “To improve the asylum system we must fully fund it and provide access to counsel,” he added. “The proposed rule we have published today is yet another step in our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the American public by more quickly identifying and removing those individuals who present a security risk and have no legal basis to remain here,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement regarding the rule. “We will continue to take action, but fundamentally it is only Congress that can fix what everyone agrees is a broken immigration system.” BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GRANTED SANCTIONS RELIEF TO ARAB NATIONS JUST BEFORE PRESIDENT’S ISRAEL AID THREAT Mayorkas recently made history by becoming only the second Cabinet official to be impeached, with the House passing two articles against him. The previous Cabinet-level impeachment occurred more than 100 years prior. However, the secretary was not removed from office as Senate Democrats were able to swiftly dismiss the articles upon delivery. The proposal comes just months ahead of the presidential election in November, which is shaping up to be a close rematch between Biden and Trump. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is also seeking to shift attention back to the border in the legislature, where he is strongly considering reviving a border bill that nearly all Republicans opposed, per a source familiar. Several incumbent Democratic senators face significant challenges in the upcoming elections, where the party will fight to hold onto its Senate majority.
Turkey’s Erdogan meets Greek PM, sees ‘no unsolvable problems’ in ties
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitotakis that there were “no unsolvable problems” between their countries as the leaders met in Ankara. Turkey and Greece have long been at odds over issues including maritime boundaries, energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, flights over the Aegean Sea, and the division of Cyprus. Since both leaders were re-elected last year, they have started taking high-profile steps to improve ties. “Despite disagreements, we focus on a positive agenda by keeping our dialogue channels open,” Erdogan told a joint news conference with Mitsotakis on Monday. “We showed today that alongside our proven disagreements, we can chart a parallel page of agreements,” Mitsotakis said. “Looking towards the many things that unite us, we wish to intensify our bilateral contacts in the coming period.” Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s support for Turkey’s EU accession “despite great difficulties … on the condition it integrates to the European acquis.” Hamas disagreement The two leaders also discussed Israel’s war on Gaza. While they agreed that a long-term ceasefire is needed, they appeared to be deeply divided over the status of the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs Gaza. Erdogan said that he was saddened by the Greek position that deems Hamas a “terrorist” organisation. The Turkish president said at the joint news conference that more than 1,000 members of the Palestinian group were being treated in hospitals across Turkey. Erdogan has repeatedly reiterated that Hamas is a “resistance movement”. “Let’s agree to disagree,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in response. The group as a whole or in some instances its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, is designated as a “terrorist” organisation by Israel, the United States, the European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan. On October 7, Hamas fighters led an unprecedented attack on Israel killing at least 1,139 people, mostly civilians, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on Israeli statistics, and seizing about 250 others as captives. Dozens of captives were released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails during a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas in November, but Israel says dozens of others are still being held in Gaza. Israel responded to the Hamas-led attack by launching a devastating war on Gaza that has levelled much of the territory, displaced more than 80 percent of the population and killed more than 35,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian authorities. Past unpleasantness Ties between Ankara and Athens have long been fraught, with the two countries arriving at the brink of war five times in as many decades. A friendly meeting took place last year when Erdogan visited Greece in an attempt to reset the relationship with positive agreements. But his previous visit to the Greek capital in 2017 was a disaster. He and then-Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos argued over the Lausanne Treaty of 1923, which set the borders between the two countries. Later, Erdogan and then-Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras traded accusations about the division of Cyprus. Erdogan blamed the Greek side for two failed rounds of talks to reunify the island in 2004 and 2017. Cyprus has been divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities after inter-communal clashes in 1964 and a Turkish invasion of the island 10 years later, following a Greek-inspired coup. Things got worse after the 2017 visit. The following year, Turkey proclaimed its Blue Homeland policy, claiming sovereign commercial rights to exploit undersea wealth under 462,000sq km (178,400sq miles) of the east Mediterranean, much of which Greece also claimed under international maritime law. In 2019, Turkey agreed to exploit a swath of the east Mediterranean with Libya, further encroaching on what Greece saw as its own maritime jurisdiction. The European Union denounced the memorandum as “illegal” under international law. Shortly after, Greece unofficially warned Turkey that it would sink any Turkish survey ship attempting to search for undersea oil and gas in what it considered its jurisdiction. Turkey called Greece’s bluff the following January, allowing its ship Oruc Reis to conduct surveys for a week southeast of Rhodes. Greece sent a frigate to observe the Oruc Reis without attacking it, but the following summer, the Oruc Reis returned, and the entire Hellenic Navy deployed across the Aegean within hours in a state of heightened alert. Turkey’s navy did the same. The standoff continued until August, when two frigates from opposing navies collided, and the US called for detente. Hydrocarbons weren’t the only source of friction. Erdogan allowed asylum seekers to storm Greek borders in 2020 and disputed Greece’s sovereignty over its east Aegean Islands in 2021. And Turkey has a standing threat of war against Greece, should attempt to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 nautical miles, which Greece says is consistent with international law. The turning point in the escalation was provided by two powerful earthquakes that levelled Turkish cities in February 2023, killing tens of thousands. Greece’s was the first overseas search-and-rescue team to arrive, and the two countries’ foreign ministers made a show of friendship by touring the wreckage together. After elections in both countries in May and June, newly mandated foreign ministers met in Ankara in September, paving the way for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Erdogan to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly two weeks later. Adblock test (Why?)
Dutch faculty join student walkout after police cleared encampment
NewsFeed “We have a centre for genocide studies on this campus… We need our institutions to step up.” Faculty at the University of Amsterdam joined students in a walkout to protest Dutch police forcibly clearing student encampments and echoed their calls for cutting ties with Israeli universities. Published On 13 May 202413 May 2024 Adblock test (Why?)