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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

8/16 WAKE-UP CALL: Trump's Court Schedule Looking Chaotic


Former President Donald Trump could face six trials — four criminal and two civil — before Election Day in November 2024, putting the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in a situation unlike any before faced by a major-party candidate in modern times. Trump, 77, was indicted Monday by a grand jury in Atlanta on 13 counts under Georgia state law for attempting to reverse his narrow loss to President Biden in the 2020 election. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, an elected Democrat, said Monday that she’s seeking “a trial date within the next six months” — putting potential trial dates smack in the middle of Trump’s likely rematch against Biden.

Trump’s other legal woes include a pair of federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, including a Miami case featuring 40 charges against the former president related to his alleged mishandling of classified records and a DC case on four counts relating to his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss. Trump additionally faces a trial in Manhattan on 34 counts under Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg that alleges Trump criminally falsified business records when he paid hush money to women claiming affairs during the 2016 election.

NY Post 8/16/23
In charging the former president with election fraud late Monday, Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis relied in part on the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act − a provision that, at the federal level, was created to target organized crime and that could significantly shape how the case against Trump unfolds. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, has had success in the past using Georgia's version of that law to target crimes that most Americans wouldn't associate with the Mafia.

RICO statutes let prosecutors seek higher sentences. In Georgia, those crimes carry a minimum five-year prison sentence and up to 20 years. They also require prosecutors to show a pattern of criminal activity − involving several people − rather than an isolated crime. That could allow Willis to lay out a broad case against Trump's inner circle and those who tried to keep him in power.

Donald Trump on Tuesday posted a video to Truth Social - his first clip since being indicted on charges of trying to overturn Georgia's election. Trump focused on Biden and his son, Hunter. 'It is now 100 percent that the Biden crime family received more than $20 million from foreign countries while crooked Joe was vice president - and probably a lot more than that; that's just the money they've found,' Trump began. 'Not one of Joe Biden's defenders has even attempted to explain what Joe and his family did, including his children and his grandchildren - what were they doing to get all this money? I believe we have a compromised president. He was bribed and now he is being blackmailed. He's a Manchurian Candidate.' Earlier on Tuesday, Trump demanded his trials be delayed until after the 2024 election.

➤HUNTER'S TOP LAWYER RESIGNS: Hunter Biden’s top criminal attorney has asked a federal judge in Delaware to allow him to withdraw as Biden’s counsel, saying he could become a witness to the case following the collapse of a plea agreement he had negotiated with prosecutors. Attorney Christopher Clark filed a motion on Tuesday asking to step down from the case, citing questions about Biden's now-defunct plea agreement on tax charges and a diversion agreement on a gun-possession offense . “Based on recent developments, it appears that the negotiation and drafting of the plea agreement and diversion agreement will be contested, and Mr. Clark is a percipient witness to those issues,” the motion said.

➤MAUI PROPERTY LOSES MOUNT: The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday more than 3,400 survivors of the Maui fires have registered for aid and 1,200 of them have been granted payments worth a total of nearly $2 million. The Lahaina fire caused about $3.2 billion in insured property losses, said an assessment Tuesday by Karen Clark & Company, a prominent disaster and risk modeling firm. That doesn’t include uninsured property. The blaze destroyed more than 2,700 structures in the historic town, according to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, who said in a video posted late Sunday that “an estimated value of $5.6 billion has gone away.’’

Latest developments:

◾ Saying he doesn't want his presence to disrupt recovery and cleanup efforts, President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Hawaii "as soon as we can'' to survey wildfire damage in Maui.

◾ Green said about 450 hotel rooms and 1,000 vacation rentals were becoming available and that thousands of people will need housing for at least 36 weeks. “We want to get everyone out of all of the shelters by week’s end,” he told Hawaii News Now.


➤BIDEN CAN'T REMEMBER: Joe Biden on Tuesday appeared to forget the name of Maui, referring to it as 'the one where you see on television all the time'. The death toll on Tuesday rose to 106, with a third of the zone searched. Biden, who was quick to approve a Federal Emergency, but who has been criticized by Republicans for not yet traveling to the devastated island, said he and his wife intended to visit soon. 'My wife Jill and I are going to travel to Hawaii as soon as we can,' he said. 'That's what I've been talking to the governor about. I don't want to get in the way. I've been to too many disaster areas. But I want to go make sure we got everything they need. Want to be sure we don't disrupt the ongoing recovery efforts.' On Sunday, he added to anger by replying 'no comment' when asked, after spending two hours at the beach in Delaware, for his reaction to the tragedy.

➤FNC HOST REPORTS AND RAISES FUNDS: Fox News host Will Cain has helped raise over $1 million in wildfire relief for Maui, Hawaii. The disaster in Maui hits home to Cain. He and his family visit Maui at least once a year. He owns property there. His mother is there. Cain traveled to Maui this week, where he is assisting in the community and providing live coverage for Fox News. He appeared live from Maui on America’s Newsroom Tuesday morning, questioning leadership’s lack of response to the disaster: “That’s the story I’m finding is a lot of disappointment in official leadership. A lot of disappointment in politicians. A lot of inspiration in people, in community, and Americans.

➤HOT WATER HEATER? REALLY?? The home at the center of an explosion in Pennsylvania that left five people dead and damaged numerous other properties over the weekend had “hot water tank issues,” the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office has revealed. 

In a statement Monday night, officials warned the public to stay away from the area in Plum, outside of Pittsburgh, as authorities are still trying to piece together what caused the destruction Saturday morning.  “The Fire Marshal’s Office can confirm that it is aware that the homeowners at 141 Rustic Ridge Drive were having hot water tank issues. The tank was located in the basement of the home,” the fire marshal’s office said.  Officials will now “investigate that information along with any and all other possibilities during their processes that may explain what occurred,” it added.  Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel said the town’s community development director, 51-year-old Heather Oravitz, and Plum Borough Manager Michael Thomas, 57, were killed in the blast along with three others who lived in the neighborhood: Kevin Sebunia, 55; Casey Clontz, 38; and Clontz’s 12-year-old son, Keegan. 

➤ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MINNESOTA CITY RESIGNS: A small city in southeastern Minnesota could be left without a police department after the entire force recently resigned, officials said. The Goodhue Police Department resigned because of issues with the city's pay, Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck said at a City Council meeting Monday. The city, which is in the county of the same name, it has a population of just over 1,000, according to its website.

➤CONCERN GROWS OVER NEWSPAPER OFFICE RAID: Footage from the explosive Marion City Council meeting that sparked a police raid on a local newspaper office has been revealed - where a furious restaurant owner accused officials of leaking her DUI information, slamming their 'malicious' behavior. Kari Newell, 46, accused the Marion County Record of getting information illegally, which would have halted her request for a liquor license - triggering the multiple police raids on Friday. Newspaper co-owner Joan Meyer, 98, collapsed and died following the intense stress and grief she felt when her home was raided by the entirety of the Marion Police Department in Kansas - headed by chief Gideon Cody. But the Meyer residence and the newspaper's HQ were not the only places raided. Marion City councilwoman Ruth Herbel's home was also pillaged after Kari Newell made a fiery attack at her last Monday.

💸JULY SAW HEALTHY CONSUMER SPENDING: Retail sales—a measure of spending at stores, online and in restaurants—rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in July from the prior month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, an acceleration from June’s 0.3% gain. Unrounded at 0.729%, July’s pace was the fastest since January. The retail sales gain also was higher than the 0.2% increase in consumer prices last month, a sign that Americans’ spending is outpacing inflation.

⚾MLB PADRES 10 ORIOLES 3: Gary Sanchez's slam spark Padres' rout of Orioles Gary Sanchez capped a five-run first inning with the Padres' first grand slam of the season as San Diego routed the visiting Baltimore Orioles 10-3 on Tuesday. Padres starter Michael Wacha (9-2) worked five scoreless innings in his first outing since July 1. The right-hander, who was activated pregame after recovering from shoulder inflammation, allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five. Wacha threw 77 pitches.

⚾MLB DODGERS 6 BREWERS 2: J.D. Martinez had a go-ahead RBI double in a five-run sixth inning, Enrique Hernandez added a two-run single and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their season-best winning streak to nine games with a 6-2 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Rookie right-hander Bobby Miller gave up one run on one hit over six innings and recorded 18 consecutive outs to close his outing as the National League West-leading Dodgers won for the 13th time in their last 14 games.

⚾MLB GIANTS 7 RAYS 0: Jakob Junis and Sean Manaea combined to strike out 12 in 7 1/3 innings, Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores hit sixth-inning home runs and the San Francisco Giants pulled away late to beat the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 7-0 on Tuesday night. One night after watching the Rays lash 18 hits in a 10-2 romp, Junis, Manaea, Tyler Rogers and Luke Jackson tag-teamed in a bullpen game on a three-hitter, allowing the Giants to win for just the second time in their past seven games.

⚾MLB SCORES:

  • Blue Jays 2 Phillies 1
  • Braves 5 Yankees 0
  • Guardians 3 Reds 0
  • Astros 6 Marlins 5
  • Red Sox 5 Nationals 4
  • Pirates 7 Mets 4
  • Twins 5 Tigers 3
  • Cardinals 6 Athletics 2
  • Rangers 7 Angels 3
  • White Sox 5 Cubs 3
  • Mariners 10 Royals 8
  • D-Backs 8 Rockies 5


⚾RAYS' SHANE MCCLANAHAN TO HAVE TOMMY JOHN SURGERY, MANUEL MARGOT OUT A MONTH: Tampa Bay ace left-hander Shane McClanahan is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery Monday, and Rays outfielder Manuel Margot will undergo a procedure to remove bone chips from his right elbow. The 26-year-old McClanahan went on the 60-day injured list with tightness in his pitching forearm.

⚾LLWS WORLD SERIES: Play begins today in Williamport, PA. Games On Tap:

  • Africa vs. Panama, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Mountain vs. Metro, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Japan vs. Cuba, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Southwest vs. Mid-Atlantic, ESPN
🏈ROOKIE ANTHONY RICHARDSON NAMED AS COLTS' STARTING QB: It took just one quarter of preseason action for Anthony Richardson to solidify himself as the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback. Richardson, this year's fourth overall draft pick, will be the Colts' starter this season, coach Shane Steichen announced Tuesday. The news comes days after Richardson's preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Richardson never saw it coming.

➤$15M SHAKEDOWN:  Michael Oher demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy before filing a petition to end the family's conservatorship over him, according to an attorney statement provided to DailyMail.com. Oher, the former NFL offensive lineman who became the inspiration for the book and movie, The Blind Side, filed a petition in a Tennessee court on Monday accusing the family of lying about adopting him. Instead, the filing claims, the Tuohys had him sign papers making them his conservators, and then used that arrangement to profit off his story when the book and movie became popularized more than a decade ago. But according to attorney Marty Singer, who represents the Tuohys, Oher had previously threatened the family and demanded an eight-figure payday. If they didn't Singer claims Oher threatened, the former Ole Miss standout would 'plant a negative story about them in the press.'



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