Michael Cohen once swore Trump wasn’t involved in Stormy Daniels payment, his ex-attorney testifies
A lawyer who formerly advised Michael Cohen claims the ex-Trump attorney said the former president had nothing to do with a hush money payment made to pornographic performer Stormy Daniels and that Cohen took care of the arrangement himself. Robert Costello, an attorney who advised Cohen after Cohen was hit with federal charges in 2018, testified before the House Weaponization Committee on Capitol Hill Wednesday during the same week Cohen has been testifying against his former boss in a Manhattan courtroom. Costello, a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, explained he is able to discuss his interactions with Cohen because he “waived the attorney-client privilege and the duty of loyalty of a lawyer to a client.” FLASHBACK: TRUMP-MANHATTAN DA CASE: BOB COSTELLO TESTIFIES TO GRAND JURY, SAYS MICHAEL COHEN IS A ‘SERIAL LIAR’ Costello testified before the grand jury for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against former President Trump. Costello testified in March 2023, just weeks before Bragg’s grand jury indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. Costello recalled an interaction with Cohen in 2018, during which he said the ex-Trump attorney was “suicidal and desperately looking for an escape route” after being indicted. “I advised him that the SDNY thought he had committed crimes and that he might have evidence they could use for a prosecution of President Trump,” Costello testified Wednesday. “I explained to Cohen how he was not the target of the investigation but was a bump in the road and that the U.S. Attorney’s Office would run over him if it led them to Donald Trump.” Costello testified that he explained to Cohen that if he had “truthful information that would implicate Donald Trump, I could get him out his legal trouble by the end of the week — if he cooperated against Donald Trump.” “I emphasized that any information Cohen could give would have to be truthful, otherwise it was useless,” Costello testified, saying he did this “numerous times” during their first meeting. NY V. TRUMP: AS ‘STAR WITNESS’ MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES, TRUMP ALLIES FLOCK TO COURT TO ‘SUPPORT THEIR FRIEND’ “Each time, Cohen said to me, ‘I swear to God, Bob, I don’t have anything on Donald Trump,’” Costello recalled Cohen saying. “Cohen must have said this at least ten times because I kept coming back to it from different approaches.” During the conversation, Costello said, Cohen told him he would do “whatever” he had to do to not spend even one day in prison. Costello then referred back to a conversation he had on the phone with Cohen days earlier, saying Cohen indicated he was “seriously contemplating jumping off” the roof of the New York City Regency Hotel because he “couldn’t handle the pressure of the upcoming criminal case.” Costello said he pressed Cohen to reconsider. “Isn’t it easier to cooperate against Donald Trump if you have truthful information, than it is to kill yourself?” he asked. Costello also testified that he was involved in a non-disclosure agreement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Costello said Cohen told him he was approached by her attorney, who said she would allege she had a sexual encounter with Trump unless Trump was willing to “buy her silence.” Costello on Wednesday said Cohen “decided that while he didn’t believe the allegation, he thought the story would be embarrassing for Trump, and especially for Melania, so he decided to take care of it himself.” Costello testified that Cohen’s “motivation for this became obvious” amid Cohen’s alleged desire to work in the Trump administration after the 2016 election. Costello testified Cohen thought Trump would make him attorney general “or at least chief of staff to the president.” “Cohen then explained that, for that reason, he negotiated the sum of $130,000 in exchange for the NDA. When asked if Trump had any knowledge of this, Cohen told me no. When asked whether Cohen got the $130,000 from Trump or any Trump entity or friend, Cohen again said no,” Costello testified. “When asked if this was from Cohen’s own money, Cohen said no. He was asked where, then, did he get the money, and Cohen explained he took out a HELOC Loan because he didn’t want anybody to know where the money came from.” MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES HE SECRETLY RECORDED TRUMP IN LEAD-UP TO 2016 ELECTION Costello, echoing what Cohen testified to during Trump’s trial this week, said Cohen told him he didn’t want his wife to know, since she handled the family’s finances. So far, Cohen has testified in Trump’s criminal trial that he personally paid the $130,000 payment to Daniels using a home equity line of credit in an effort to conceal the payment from his wife. Cohen said he did this because Trump told him to “handle it” and prevent a negative story from coming out ahead of the election. Cohen testified that he was “reimbursed $420,000” for the $130,000 he paid to Daniels. Cohen said former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg suggested he “gross up” the payments, and that Trump himself was aware of the reimbursments. But Cohen also testified at trial he didn’t tell Costello that Trump knew of the reimbursements because he was still loyal to Trump. He also said he “believed, based upon all of our conversations, that [Costello] would immediately run back to Mr. [Rudy] Giuliani and that communication would be divulged to President Trump.” Costello stressed Wednesday that “the point” of his testimony is that “when Michael Cohen was presented with the opportunity to implicate Donald Trump in exchange for eliminating his own enormous legal problems, he repeatedly said he had nothing truthful on Donald Trump. NY V. TRUMP: COHEN TESTIFIES TO PAYING STORMY DANIELS FROM HIS OWN POCKET “Now, after going to jail, Michael Cohen is on a revenge tour because he blames Donald Trump for the loss of his law license and the fact that
Republicans team up to defeat longtime ‘restriction’ targeting gun owners: ‘Violation of the Second Amendment’
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and other Senate Republicans recently introduced legislation that would abolish transfer taxes on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The bill, called the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, was announced on Wednesday. According to a press statement released by Cotton, the law “would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.” The press release explains that the NFA has taxed the transfers of short-barreled shotguns and rifles and fully automatic firearms since 1934. The tax has been $200 since 1934, a sum that is equal to nearly $4,700 in 2024 dollars. Specifically, the bill seeks to eliminate Section 5811 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, effectively repealing the transfer tax for all firearms regulated by the NFA. PELOSI REBUKED TO HER FACE DURING OXFORD DEBATE AFTER CONDEMNING AMERICANS CLOUDED BY ‘GUNS, GAYS, GOD’ “The RIFLE Act does not modify the current checks and registration; it solely removes the federally mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners,” the press release adds. Speaking to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, Ambler Law attorney Oliver Krawczyk said that the current taxes on firearms are “indistinguishable from poll taxes.” The lawyer, who specializes in Second Amendment law, called the legislation “a step in the right direction.” “This would undermine the constitutional basis of the NFA altogether, because it’s a purported exercise of Congress’s enumerated taxing power,” Krawczyk added. “But the Founders would have scoffed at the notion that it could be a felony to possess a short-barreled rifle or shotgun in the first place.” MAINE TARGETS SECOND AMENDMENT WITH SEVERAL GUN SAFETY BILLS AFTER DEADLIEST SHOOTING IN STATE’S HISTORY The legislation is supported by other senators, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Rick Scott, R-Fla.; and John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; and Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “The federal government should not be placing financial barriers on the inalienable rights of Americans. This unconstitutional tax on certain firearm purchases is a direct violation of the Second Amendment and must be repealed,” Hinson said. “As the Biden Administration and Democrats push proposals that unfairly target law-abiding gun owners, I will continue to stand up for Iowans’ right to keep and bear arms.” In a statement, Cotton called the current firearm transfer taxes “unnecessary.” “Law-abiding Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights should not be subject to unnecessary taxes and restrictions preventing them from doing so,” Cotton said. “Passed into law in 1934, the National Firearms Act needs to be amended. Our legislation will remove the red tape that places an undue financial burden on would-be gun owners.”
RFK Jr. says he’ll debate Biden, Trump moments after president laughs him off
President Biden responded with smiles Wednesday, after being asked about debating former President Donald Trump a third time, and possibly even Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Shortly after the president laughed off the possibility of debating RFK Jr., the latter posted on X that he’d be debating both Trump and Biden. “I’m happy to report that I will meet the criteria to participate in the [CNN] debate before the June 20 deadline,” RFK Jr. wrote. “I look forward to holding Presidents Biden and Trump accountable for their records in Atlanta on June 27 to give Americans the debate they deserve.” TRUMP URGES BIDEN TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH DEBATE PROMISE: ‘I’M READY TO GO ANYWHERE’ Biden met with reporters at the Joint Chiefs Combatant Commander’s Meeting on Wednesday, where he provided a few statements before the meeting. After finishing, reporters quickly shouted as many questions as they could before being moved out of the room. One of those reporters was Fox News Channel White House correspondent Peter Doocy, who asked Biden, “Did you see Trump said he’ll do a third debate?” BIDEN GIVES 3-WORD RESPONSE WHEN ASKED WHEN HE’LL DEBATE TRUMP The president is seen on video smiling and looking down after hearing Doocy’s question. “Would you? Why not debate a third time? Why Not?” Doocy asked. Another reporter asked Biden if he was looking forward to the debates, and he answered, “I am. Come on.” TRUMP SUPPORTERS FLOCK TO MASSIVE NEW JERSEY CAMPAIGN RALLY TO HEAR FORMER PRESIDENT SPEAK AMID ONGOING TRIALS Doocy then asked Biden a question, which the reporter captured using his iPhone. “You don’t want to debate RFK Jr.,” Doocy asked, which Biden acknowledged with a smile. “That’s a no?” Biden and Trump solidified plans to face off during debates in June and September. TRUMP URGES BIDEN TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH DEBATE PROMISE: ‘I’M READY TO GO ANYWHERE’ Trump gave Biden an open invitation to debate anytime, anywhere, and Biden stepped up and told Trump to “make my day” in a heavily edited video on social media. Alongside Biden’s announcement came a letter from his campaign to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which revealed a few critical limits that the Biden camp placed on any debate with Trump. The demands included not having an audience, so the debates could benefit the American voters watching on TV, not to be used as entertainment with “raucous or disruptive partisans and donors.” HERE ARE ALL THE RESTRICTIONS BIDEN’S TEAM DEMANDED IN THEIR TRUMP DEBATE OFFER The Biden camp also demanded microphones be muted after the time expires, a limit on the number of major new outlets that can host a 2024 presidential debate, and no participation by RFK Jr., or any other 3rd-party candidates. “The debates should be one-on-one, allowing voters to compare the only two candidates with any statistical chance of prevailing in the Electoral College — and not squandering debate time on candidates with no prospect of becoming President,” Biden’s team wrote. Kennedy condemned the requirement in a post on X, accusing both Trump and Biden of colluding to block him from the debate stage. “Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want,” RFK Jr. wrote. “They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win. Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy.” Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
California Angel Mom, GOP lawmaker putting Democrats ‘on defense’ for sanctuary policies: ‘Have them explain’
California Democrats should be forced to go on the record to end sanctuary protections for illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes against minors, said one lawmaker who is attempting to do just that. Republican state Rep. Bill Essayli said he will again introduce a bill to repeal provisions of a state law that prohibits local authorities from participating in federal immigration enforcement of any kind, including banning law enforcement from asking someone about their immigration status and informing immigration authorities about when a suspect is due to be released from local custody. The law, SB 54, also known as the “California Values Act,” is sometimes referred to as a “Sanctuary State” law. Next week, Essayli will put forth AB 2641, which would require law enforcement to comply with federal immigration requests to detain or transfer someone or notify immigration agents of the pending release of someone convicted of sex crimes against a child. ‘FEARMONGERING’: CHINESE MIGRANT SURGE HEARING DISMISSED BY HOUSE DEMS DESPITE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS The bill was previously introduced to lawmakers but the powerful Democratic-dominated Assembly Public Safety Committee refused to hold a hearing on it, Essayli said. “They don’t want to justify or explain why they’re protecting pedophiles from deportation,” he told Fox News Digital. The committee came under fire last year when it initially blocked a bill that would have made human trafficking of children a serious felony. The body eventually reversed course after outcry from the public and Democratic leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom. Agnes Gibboney, who immigrated to the United States from communist Hungary and whose son was murdered in the driveway of their California home in 2002, put the blame on elected officials. “They forgot that they are working for all of us,” Gibboney, who is a U.S. citizen and Angel Mom, told Fox News Digital. “They have equal rights to protect the Latino community, as well as the American community, the Asian community, the Black community, everybody, and they’re not.” ‘FEARMONGERING’: CHINESE MIGRANT SURGE HEARING DISMISSED BY HOUSE DEMS DESPITE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS “They’re just protecting a certain class of people… and that is a disgrace,” she added. “What is the point of protecting a person who rapes a little child?” Essayli said he was inspired to seek a legislative fix to California’s immigration policies by a recent case in which a Colombian citizen convicted of sex crimes in California was arrested in Massachusetts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. He was released from a correctional facility in California, but the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office was “hampered in its ability to assist in the case, due to California state law limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” ICE said. Targeting illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes against children instead of everyone in the country illegally is also a strategic move, said Essayli. “I want to put them (Democrats) on defense and have them explain we shouldn’t do this,” he said. “The problem is if I just do a bill to reverse sanctuary state completely, they’re going to roll out the grandmas or some kid who was convicted of something minor, saying ‘He’s going to be deported now. He’s never been to that country as an adult.’ We’re going to hear the sob stories.” “Let’s pick the worst of the worst and have the Democrats justify and defend the policy,” he added. Fox News Digital has reached out to the California Democratic Party. Gibboney is urging lawmakers to vote for a “sane bill” he says is much-needed in California. “These are how the laws used to be,” she said. “And who gave the order down the line to tell police officers that they can’t do their job?”
GOP lawmaker surprisingly stalls Texas-style law from reaching border state voters
The vote on a controversial Arizona border security bill was delayed after a GOP lawmaker raised concerns about some of the language. HCR 2060, otherwise known as the Secure the Border Act, was scheduled for a vote in the Arizona Senate but was held up by Republican State Sen. Ken Bennett, who voiced objections to some of the language in the bill. Modeled after Texas’ controversial SB 4, the Arizona bill aims to give local law enforcement the tools to enforce federal border security laws, making it a crime to illegally cross the border. SWING STATE GOP LOOKS TO GO AROUND DEM GOVERNOR, PUT TEXAS-STYLE BORDER BILL BEFORE VOTERS But Bennett took issue with some of the language in the bill regarding recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, with the bill stating that the legal status of children who were brought to the U.S. illegally could change if the program was ever canceled, according to a report from KJZZ. “There was a nine-year window between 2012 and 2021 where people became DACA or received DACA status, and I don’t want anything in here that could be applied retrospectively,” Bennett said of the provision, according to the report. The GOP lawmaker’s vote represents a crucial one thanks to a narrow majority for the Republican-led state senate, which cannot afford a single defection amid universal Democratic opposition to the legislation. The passing of the bill was further complicated by the absence of Republican State Sen. Justine Wadsack, who was forced to miss the vote while attending to a family emergency in California, according to a report from AZ Family. BORDER STATE GOP PUSHES TO DEFY WHITE HOUSE, ADOPT TX-STYLE IMMIGRATION LAW Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has also voiced opposition to the bill, arguing that the bill would do little to “secure our border.” “On the contrary, it will be harmful for businesses and communities in our state and a burden for law enforcement personnel,” Hobbs said in a statement about the legislation. “I know there’s frustration about the federal government’s failure to secure our border, but this bill is not the solution.” Hobbs vetoed a similar piece of legislation in March that made it a state crime to illegally cross the border, spawning a new effort by Republican lawmakers to pass a new version of the bill that would land on the ballot of Arizona voters in November. Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen expressed optimism that the legislation would ultimately pass, telling Fox News Digital that he believed Bennett’s concerns had been addressed and that Wadsack would be able to return in time for a vote next week. “We’re clarifying that they are exempt,” Petersen said of DACA recipients, the subject of Bennett’s concern. Bennett’s office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. Meanwhile, Petersen argued that the bill was a valid solution to the state’s border security woes, noting the differences between the current legislation and a controversial 2010 Arizona law known as SB 1070, which eventually had portions struck down by the Supreme Court in 2012. “This is not SB 1070,” Petersen said. “We’re truly just dealing with the border… this is truly a border security bill. It’s not an immigration bill.”
Wildfires spread across western Canada
NewsFeed Over 130 fires are burning in western Canada, putting thousands of people under orders to evacuate. Published On 15 May 202415 May 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Another Biden administration staffer resigns over US stance on Gaza war
Lily Greenberg Call says she cannot ‘in good conscience’ represent the US gov’t, condemns ‘disastrous’ Gaza policy. Another staffer in United States President Joe Biden’s administration has publicly resigned in protest of the US’s continued support for Israel amid its war on Gaza, The Associated Press news agency reported. Lily Greenberg Call, a special assistant to the chief of staff in the US Interior Department, wrote in her resignation letter that she could not “in good conscience continue to represent” the administration, AP reported on Wednesday. Call, who is Jewish, also condemned comments Biden has made since the Gaza war began in October, including one where he warned “there wouldn’t be a Jew in the world who was safe” without the existence of Israel. “He is making Jews the face of the American war machine. And that is so deeply wrong,” she told the news agency in an interview. A handful of Biden administration officials and appointees – including a former US Army officer – have publicly stepped down over the US’s Gaza policy since the conflict began on October 7. The resignations have come amid widespread anger in the country about Biden’s unequivocal support for Israel, despite the mounting death toll in the Gaza Strip and accusations that Israeli forces are committing genocide against Palestinians in the enclave. More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, and Israel’s continued assault and siege on the territory has created a dire humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced. But despite the dire toll of Israel’s military offensive, and a recent decision to pause one US weapons shipment to Israel, the Biden administration signalled this week that it plans to send another $1bn in military assistance to Israel. The news drew condemnation from rights advocates, who for months have urged Washington to suspend all weapons transfers to its top Middle East ally. A recent US Department of State report found that Israeli forces likely used US-supplied weapons in a manner “inconsistent” with international law. However, it stopped short of identifying violations that would put an end to Washington’s ongoing military aid. On Wednesday, Josh Paul – a former State Department official who resigned in October over the US’s Gaza policy – said the latest Biden administration resignation signalled that “the tide is turning”. Paul noted in a post on LinkedIn that US university students, Democratic Party voters, as well as Biden’s own staff and political appointees have all made clear they are opposed to his Middle East policy. The US president, who is seeking re-election in November, faces growing disapproval among key segments of his Democratic base over his Gaza stance. Young people, progressives, and voters of colour, among others, have said they would not vote for him in the upcoming elections if he does not change tack. “How many more Palestinian lives will it take before President Biden catches up to the American electorate and ceases American support to the war crimes being committed with our funding, with our arms, by Israel?” Paul wrote. Call, the staffer who resigned from the Interior Department, also said Israel’s Gaza war and US support for it were “disastrous”. “I think the president has to know that there are people in his administration who think this is disastrous,” Call told The Associated Press. “Not just for Palestinians, for Israelis, for Jews, for Americans, for his election prospects.” Adblock test (Why?)
What does Georgia’s foreign influence bill mean for its bid to join the EU?
Protesters took to the streets in Tblisi after Georgia’s Parliament approved ‘foreign agents’ law. Georgia’s Parliament has signed off on a controversial bill, sparking outrage in the capital. In April, the government announced it was reviving legislation that would require media and nongovernmental organisations to register themselves as foreign agents if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. That led to weeks of mass demonstrations. The government says the law is needed to promote transparency and preserve sovereignty. But critics say the bill drives Georgia closer to Russia. How will it affect the country’s hopes of joining the European Union? Presenter: Tom McRae Guests: Hans Gutbrod – professor of public policy, Illia State University, Georgia Ketevan Shoshiashvili – senior researcher, Transparency International Dachi Imedadze – campaign strategist, SHAME Movement Adblock test (Why?)
From Capitol Hill to the courtroom: Bob Menendez doesn’t want you to be distracted by shiny objects
Don’t be distracted by the shiny object. Or 13 shiny objects — as in bars of gold bullion. That’s the goal of the attorneys for Sen. Bob. Menendez, the Democrat from New Jersey. The senator is on trial for the second time in less than a decade on unrelated charges. U.S. senators don’t go on trial very often. The late Sen. Ted Stevens, the Republican from Alaska, was on trial back in 2008. A jury convicted Stevens. Then Stevens had the case overturned. Stevens died in a plane crash after he lost his bid for re-election. DEMOCRAT SEN. BOB MENENDEZ FACES SECOND FEDERAL CORRUPTION TRIAL WITH JURY SELECTION STARTING MONDAY But who was the last U.S. senator on trial? Bob Menendez in 2017. In that case, Menendez was accused of accepting lavish gifts for doing favors for an eye doctor. The case ended in a hung jury. Menendez torched prosecutors for even bringing that case. And he broke down when the case concluded. “The way this case started was wrong. The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong. And the way it was tried was wrong, as well,” said Menendez. “Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot understand or, even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County can grow up to be a United States senator and be honest.” Menendez seemingly found redemption upon being given a second lease on his political career. “Today is Resurrection Day, and I want to thank God once again for allowing me to stand before you, as I walked into this courthouse 11 weeks ago, an innocent man,” Menendez said at the time. He then ran for re-election in 2018 and won. The government says that’s where trouble began. Menedez is accused of taking bribes from businessmen in the Garden State in exchange for favors. Among them, operating as a foreign agent for Qatar. That’s where the gold bars come in. The feds accuse Menendez of accepting the gold bars from New Jersey businessman Fred Daibes in exchange for using his muscle to help get a deal with a Qatari investment fund. The goal of Menendez’s defense counsel is to convince jurors there isn’t necessarily a connection between the gold bars and official favors. Although prosecutors will point out that Menendez did multiple internet searches, trying to determine the worth of gold bars in kilos. Another charge targets Menendez and the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Investigators claim they were doing the bidding of Egypt. In particular, the feds accuse Menendez of writing shadow letters on behalf of senators, trying to dislodge a Senate holdup on $300 million in military aid targeted for Cairo. JON STEWART CALLS OUT NANCY PELOSI, HUNTER BIDEN AND BOB MENENDEZ IN SEGMENT ON POLITICAL CORRUPTION Prosecutors also accuse Menendez of taking payments to help Wael Hana, an Egyptian American businessman, score an agreement with the government of Egypt. Hana wanted the Egyptians to certify that his imported halal meat met appropriate dietary guidelines for Muslims. Menendez argued that working with constituents was just what lawmakers do. “What a chilling effect on the mere engagements and of these conversations it would be,” Menendez said of lawmakers simply engaging with people who seek government assistance. “The United States Attorney’s Office is not engaged in a prosecution but a persecution. They seek a victory. Not justice.” Jury selection took place over several days. On the first day, Judge Sidney Stein dismissed 38 possible jurors outright, then hauled in another pool of 50 prospective jurors. One possible juror cited work at the Rockland County New York Humane Society as a problem with her serving. Another said she had a non-refundable trip scheduled to Rome. Stein let her go but questioned the validity of the lack of an available refund. A children’s librarian from Greenwich, Conn., was one of the jury candidates. After she left, Stein opined on that line of work in another life. “I’m telling you, that’s what I would do. Children’s librarian,” said Stein. SEN BOB MENENDEZ MAY BLAME HIS WIFE NADINE DURING FEDERAL CORRUPTION TRIAL: COURT DOCS It’s probably not that different from negotiating terms for a federal trial for a U.S. senator. One jury candidate told the court about a fear of heights, noting that the courtroom is on the 23rd floor of the Daniel P. Moynihan Courthouse in Lower Manhattan. Another possible juror announced she just had an ingrown toenail removed and couldn’t serve due to a litany of other maladies. “I think she’d be too much of a problem,” Stein said after excusing her. At least it wasn’t a hangnail. And, after all, the goal of Stein is to avoid a hung jury. Stein also told potential jurors some of the testimony in the trial may be in Spanish and Arabic, through an interpreter. Stein also presented a list of various political figures, ranging from Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., to Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., to Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y. Stein advised the jury candidates they should speak up if they know any of those figures or are familiar with them. Stein didn’t say they would appear as witnesses, but he did say their names may come up in the trial. None are accused of wrongdoing. At the 2017 trial of Menendez, his Garden State colleague, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., sat in the courtroom on the first day for moral support. Booker testified as a character witness on behalf of Menendez, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. But for this trial, Menendez appears to be on his own. “I’m not going to follow the day-to-day. I’ll be waiting for the verdict,” said Booker. Menendez has disappointed Senate Democrats who hoped he would resign. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., often gives a variation of the same pat answer when asked whether Menendez should step down or if the Senate should expel the senator. “The Senate has standards as to
NYC mayor ripped by immigration activists over ‘racist’ claim that migrants make ‘excellent swimmers’
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is taking fire from immigration activists over what they say is a “racist” comment about migrants being suitable to fill a shortage of lifeguards as they are “excellent swimmers” — but the mayor’s office claims they are missing the point. “New Yorkers are looking to Mayor Eric Adams to unite our City, not foment more division. His comments on asylum seekers being ‘excellent swimmers’ implies that because some immigrants had to swim or wade across water on their dangerous journeys to seek safety in the United States, that they would make good lifeguards,” Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition said in a statement. “This comment is racist, and the Mayor should not be making light of the perilous and often life-threatening journeys people are forced to make to escape violence and persecution,” he added. “It’s demeaning and dehumanizing.” ‘EXCELLENT SWIMMERS’: DEM MAYOR FLOATS MIGRANTS AS SOLUTION FOR CITY’S LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE Awawdeh was reacting to comments Adams made Tuesday when he was asked at a press conference about a lifeguard shortage in the city as Memorial Day approaches. He said the situation could be helped “If we had a migrant and asylum seeker plan that states those jobs that we are… in high demand we could expedite.” “How do we have a large body of people that are in our city, and country, that are excellent swimmers and, at the same time, we need lifeguards — and the only obstacle is that we won’t give them the right to work to become a lifeguard,” he said. “That just doesn’t make sense.” He listed off other occupations, including food service workers and nurses, where the Big Apple could face shortages. “We have all these eligible people waiting to work with the skills we need to fill the jobs, but we are unable to allow them to work because bureaucracy is in the way,” he said. “That just does not make sense.” The comments drew surprise from conservatives as well as activists, with them viewing the comment as a gaffe. But Adams has repeatedly called for the expediting of work permits to allow those in the country claiming asylum to be able to work. The mayor’s office pushed back against the criticism in a statement on Wednesday. DEM MAYOR FACES BACKLASH FOR CITY’S ‘HAPHAZARD’ MIGRANT POLICY: ‘CRUELTY’ “With more than 197,000 migrants who have come through our care since the spring of 2022, Mayor Adams has been clear that there is nothing more un-American than not allowing someone to work,” a city hall spokesperson said. “The mayor has repeatedly pointed out that there are people in our shelter system right now who are qualified for vacant city jobs — in industries such as food service, construction, manufacturing, lifeguarding, and more — and yet, we cannot hire them because the federal government has not issued them work authorization and the right to work,” they said. “Anyone who is trying to make more out of the mayor continuing to make that point today is missing the forest for the trees.” His office also pointed to multiple instances this year where Adams has called for migrants to be given the ability to work — including as lifeguards. “We need everything from lifeguards to workers in the racing industry to food service workers,” Adams said earlier this month on FOX5 “Good Day New York.” “It’s really ironic that when we need so many employees across the country, where states and cities are seeing a drop in population, I think that when people are paroled legally into the country, we should designate where they go based on the needs of the country and allow them to work there for three years, and then allow them to go anywhere in the country.” Adams has also called for a national resettlement strategy and additional funding from the federal government. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.