List of All Articles with Tag 'ame'

Geoff Duncan, former lieutenant governor of Georgia, had harsh words for Donald Trump on Monday after offering his testimony in the Fulton County grand jury investigation into the former president’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. The former official argued it was time for the Republican party to move on from Mr Trump. “Politically speaking, this is a pivot point for this country to do something more than just stew on the 2020 election cycle,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’re either going to, as Republicans, take our medicine and realise the election wasn’t rigged and Donald Trump was the worst candidate ever, in the history of our party, even worse than [US Senate candidate] Herschel Walker.” “We want to win an election in 2024,” he added. “It’s going to have to be somebody other than Donald Trump.” Mr Trump railed against the Georgia official on Monday. "I am reading reports that failed former Lt. Governor of Georgia, Jeff Duncan, will be testifying before the Fulton County Grand Jury," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "He shouldn’t,” the former president added. “I barely know him but he was, right from the beginning of this Witch Hunt, a nasty disaster for those looking into the Election Fraud that took place in Georgia." Mr Duncan was one of the rare Republican officials to affirm the results of the 2020 election, and he condemned Mr Trump in 2021 for a call to Georgia officials pressuring them to “find” enough votes for Mr Trump to win the state. “I am 100 per cent certified to tell you that it was inappropriate. And it certainly did not help the situation,” he told CNN. “It was based on misinformation, it was based on, you know, all types of theories that have been debunked and disproved over the course of the last 10 weeks.” Read More Live updates: Trump rails against Georgia charges ‘leak’ as court claims document is fake Was Fulton County Court hacked? How a ‘fictitious’ Trump charge sheet brought chaos to Georgia grand jury Judge in Donald Trump’s hush-money case denies bias claim, won’t step aside

The preseason college football rankings have been set with the AP Top 25 announced. Which ranked teams will be the first to lose this season?The AP Top 25 rankings have arrived right on schedule with the 2023 college football season set to kick off in just a couple of weeks.Last year, nine t...

There was plenty of confusion regarding possible charges against former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case. Reuters reported on Monday that a document outlining the charges against Mr Trump had been posted and then removed from the Fulton County website. Mr Trump then used the document to ask for donations from his supporters, arguing that he was being denied due process. The Office of the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts then issued a statement on Monday afternoon saying that a “fictitious” document had been shared online. The office said they had “learned of a fictitious document that has been circulated online and reported by various media outlets related to The Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury”. “While there have been no documents filed today regarding such, all members of the media should be reminded that documents that do not bear an official case number, filing date, and the name of The Clerk of Courts, in concert, are not considered official filings and should not be treated as such,” the court said. They added that “Media members can expect to be notified of any/all filings in real-time and will be provided access to filings via equitable communication”. “As the official custodian of various county records, the Clerk of Courts understands the sensitivity of all court filings, especially those that are at the forefront of the national spotlight and remains committed to operating with an extreme level of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency,” the court said. A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office told Reuters earlier that the news agency’s report “that those charges were filed is inaccurate. Beyond that we cannot comment”. Mr Trump ranted and raved about what he claimed was “accidentally filed” charges against him in an email to supporters asking for money amidst his ever-mounting legal woes. In an email to supporters, Mr Trump appeared to have an opposite version of events to the court, saying: “As reported by Reuters, the Fulton County District Attorney just accidentally filed CHARGES against me in the Georgia Witch Hunt – and then DELETED them from the court website!” “These charges were filed BEFORE the Grand Jury officially voted,” he claimed despite the statement from the court. “But don’t worry – even though they deleted the evidence, we still have a RECORD! “The Grand Jury testimony has not even FINISHED – but it’s clear the District Attorney has already decided how this case will end. They are trying to rob me of my right to due process,” Mr Trump added. “This is an absolute DISGRACE. These rabid left-wing prosecutors don’t care about uncovering the truth. They don’t care about administering justice or upholding the rule of law,” the former president said. “They want me BEHIND BARS for the rest of my life as an innocent man and will do anything in their power to get their way. I still cannot believe that this is happening in the United States of America,” Mr Trump wrote to supporters. “Our country is being run into the ground by the most incompetent and corrupt people in history. We MUST Save America – and 2024 truly is our final chance,” he claimed. “America needs YOU more than ever before,” the president said in the email before asking for donations. “Please make a contribution to show that you will NEVER SURRENDER our country to tyranny as the Deep State thugs try to JAIL me for life.” Trump Attorneys Drew Findling and Jennifer Little said in a statement that “the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has once again shown that they have no respect for the integrity of the grand jury process. “This was not a simple administrative mistake. A proposed indictment should only be in the hands of the District Attorney’s Office, yet it somehow made its way to the clerk’s office and was assigned a case number and a judge before the grand jury even deliberated. “This is emblematic of the pervasive and glaring constitutional violations which have plagued this case from its very inception.” Read More Possible Trump Georgia indictment set to be televised, judge rules Karen Pence says she ‘never felt afraid’ on January 6 despite ‘hang Mike Pence’ chants Trump accused of ‘witness tampering in real time’ in Georgia election case ahead of expected indictment

Donald Trump has been accused of witness tampering in the Georgia election case where an indictment against the former president is expected this week. “I am reading reports that failed former Lt Governor of Georgia, Jeff Duncan, will be testifying before the Fulton County Grand Jury. He shouldn’t,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday, before doubling down on his baseless claims about election fraud. “I barely know him but he was, right from the beginning of this Witch Hunt, a nasty disaster for those looking into the Election Fraud that took place in Georgia.” Mr Trump was referring to Geoff Duncan, who served as the second in command to Governor Brian Kemp when Mr Trump was attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. “He refused having a Special Session to find out what went on, became very unpopular with Republicans (I refused to endorse him!), and fought the TRUTH all the way. A loser, he went to FNCNN!” Mr Trump added, seemingly in reference to the news networks Fox News and CNN. Mr Duncan appeared on CNN on Monday saying, “I’m going to refrain from any comment with the exception of saying, which was just pointed out, he did misspell my name”. On Monday, the court website for Fulton County, Georgia posted a document seeming to outline several charges against Mr Trump before it was taken down. The document was removed without explanation. The document was dated 14 August and named Mr Trump. The case was cited as “open”. A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office told Reuters that the news agency’s report “that those charges were filed is inaccurate. Beyond that we cannot comment”. The news agency reported that the document, two pages in length, includes Violation Of The Georgia Rico (Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations) Act, Solicitation Of Violation Of Oath By Public Officer, Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings and Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree, in addition to other charges. District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating Mr Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state and was expected to seek an indictment from a grand jury this week. It would be Mr Trump’s fourth indictment within the span of five months. Former US Attorney Barb McQuade wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Mr Trump was “witness tampering in real time,” with his statement on Truth Social. MSNBC host Katie Phang added: “This is going to go so very badly for Trump…” Marcus Flowers, a Georgia Democrat, wrote: “He’s trying it! I don’t think it’s going to work well in Atlanta. It ain’t a small town!” Democratic political commentator Bakari Sellers said people “get their bonds denied and revoked for this type of behaviour”. Mr Trump also went on several additional rants against the Georgia grand jury and Ms Willis on Monday as an indictment appeared to be imminent. In one outburst on Monday morning, Mr Trump wrote: “WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THE FULTON COUNTY GRAND JURY THAT I DID NOT TAMPER WITH THE ELECTION. “THE PEOPLE THAT TAMPERED WITH IT WERE THE ONES THAT RIGGED IT, AND SADLY, PHONEY FANI WILLIS, WHO HAS SHOCKINGLY ALLOWED ATLANTA TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HAS NO INTEREST IN SEEING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE AVAILABLE, OR FINDING OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE THAT COMMITTED THIS CRIME ARE. “SHE ONLY WANTS TO ‘GET TRUMP.’ I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHOW THIS INFO TO THE G.J.” Read More Trump’s Georgia case presented to grand jury as ex-president may face racketeering charges - latest No matter how many indictments come down, it’s still Donald Trump’s Republican Party 'No Labels' movement says it could offer bipartisan presidential ticket in 2024

A Texas man is accused of kidnapping his wife’s lover before beating him to death, wrapping his body in plastic and hiding him in a storage container. Police say that the violence unfolded after Narciso Cruz Banos found out that his wife Francisca Salazar Carrizales was in a relationship with 32-year-old Francisco Antonio Serrano Romero. Investigators say that the victim was found with his arms bound by a belt and that he had been struck and killed with “a blunt object.” The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says that deputies found the body in a “detached structure” at a property in the city of Tomball after the victim’s wife reported him missing. She raised the alarm after speaking to her husband who sounded injured and told her he was going to stay the night at the house of his boss. Officials say that when she called Mr Banos, he told of the alleged affair and said he had pistol-whipped the victim. “Deputies located a detached structure on the property and found what appeared to be a human body, wrapped in plastic, secured with tape, inside the structure,” authorities stated. Mr Banos, who has lived in the Houston area for 30 years, was booked on Sunday on charges of murder, aggravated kidnapping, and tampering with evidence, namely a human corpse. Francisca Carrizales was also charged with tampering with a human corpse and was booked into the Harris County Jail. Neither Mr Banos nor Ms Carrizales, who have two children together, is a US citizen. A $600,000 bond was set for Mr Banos and a $500,000 bond was set for his wife. He was placed under house arrest and the couple may not have any contact with each other. Read More Oklahoma paediatrician identified as pilot severely injured when plane crashed into power lines Teen missing and several people seriously injured in Lake Austin boat crash Tiffany Gomas: Woman in viral plane rant video shares tearful apology to fellow passengers

The latest college football rankings shorted these teams in the initial AP Top 25 Poll big time.With the first AP Top 25 Poll released on Monday afternoon, some high-quality teams did not see a number next to their names.Naturally, this will all sort itself out. Keep in mind that national ru...

Timothy Bliefnick made headlines in his hometown of Quincy, Illinois, when he appeared in a 2020 episode of Family Feud. Cheerful, well-dressed, and with a party watching in support from home, Bliefnick answered one of the game show’s prompt questions by joking that the worst mistake on his wedding night was saying “I do”. His answer drew an audible gasp from the audience, with host Steve Harvey quipping that Bliefnick was going to face “a lot of hell to pay” when he got home. Bliefnick rushed to clarify that it “was not his [answer] to say” and that he loved his wife Rebecca “Becky” Bliefnick. “I’m going to get in trouble for that, aren’t I?” Bliefnick told Mr Harvey with a teasing smile. A year after the episode aired, the Bliefnicks filed for divorce. Bliefnick’s next turn in the headlines would come under vastly different circumstances. In March of this year, he was charged with breaking into his estranged wife’s home and shooting her 14 times. On 31 May, Bliefnick was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. Prosecutors said the killing marked the end of a long string of domestic violence and threats by Bliefnick against Becky. Bliefnick was convicted on 11 August to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Here is everything we know about the case: The crime Loved ones first became concerned when 41-year-old Becky, a doting mother and travel nurse, failed to pick up her three sons from school on 23 February. Before discovering the gruesome scene, Becky’s father William Postle received a text from Bliefnick, 39, asking him to check if she planned to pick up the children. Mr Postle told jurors at the Adam County Court House on 23 May that he drove to his daughter’s home and found the front door open, which he described as unusual. After finding Becky’s body in the bathroom, he rushed to a neighbour’s house to call 911 as he had forgotten his phone, according to KHQA. Adams County Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones said that shell casings found in Bliefnick’s basement matched the casings that were near his wife’s body. Crime scene investigators reportedly found Becky’s DNA in an Aldi bag found at her husband’s home. Prosecutors also claimed that DNA links Bliefnick to the crime scene. Another Aldi bag found at the scene was reportedly used as a homemade gun silencer by the killer. Mr Jones said during opening arguments that Becky spent her last moments “terrified, bleeding, and alone.” For the first week following Becky’s killing, Bliefnick was not charged or arrested in connection with her death. But on 1 March, the Quincy Police Department served a search warrant at his home. Bliefnick denied any involvement but said through an attorney that he was surprised authorities didn’t show up at his door sooner. “Given the circumstances, it is not surprising that the search warrant was issued and executed,” the attorney told local news outlet Muddy River News at the time. “My only surprise is that it took this long to do. It is just as important that QPD conduct such as investigation to rule Tim OUT as a suspect so that investigative efforts can be spent elsewhere.” Bliefnick was ultimately arrested on 13 March, and pleaded not guilty. Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence they say proves Bliefnick was the perpetrator in his wife’s murder - including chilling searches for “how to wash off gunpowder,” “average police response time,” and “how to open a door with a crowbar” in his online history. On 31 March, a jury convicted Bliefnick on all counts related to Becky’s murder - after the defence declined to present any evidence. Jurors deliberated for just four hours before returning the guilty verdict. Now, Bliefnick is facing between 45 years to life in prison at his sentencing in August. Allegations of domestic violence The couple filed for divorce in early 2021, court filings show, following 13 years of marriage. Becky had filed a restraining order against Bliefnick and his father before the alleged murderer decided to also file one against his estranged wife. Mr Jones said during opening arguments that Bliefnick had reportedly told his slain wife that “she would not get his money.” According to the couple’s divorce attorney, Bliefnick was expected to pay $2,100 in maintenance and $472 per month in child support. Another attorney who took over the divorce case said the process was “very contested.” The couple was reportedly also fighting over custody arrangements. Bliefnick reportedly wanted his wife to have a psychiatric evaluation and Becky said it was his wish the children didn’t have any type of contact with her husband’s father. Becky’s boyfriend Ted Johnson also took the stand on 23 May. Testifying for the prosecution, Mr Johnson said that Becky was looking forward to having her difficult divorce finalised. Sarah Rilley, Becky’s sister, told jurors that she had first wanted to remain married to Bliefnick to keep their family together, but in the months leading up to her death had become afraid for her life. “If something ever happens to me, make sure the number one person of interest is Tim. I am putting this in writing that I’m fearful he will somehow harm me,” Becky reportedly texted her sister in 2021. A text Becky sent to a friend in May 2021 read: “He has screamed in my face, he shoved me in front of the kids, and has thrown things across the room where the kids and I were standing.” Another friend of Becky testified on 23 May that she had been told by Bliefnick that she’ll be dead before [having] any of [his] money.” At the time of Becky’s murder, there was a court order for Bliefnick to return a gun to her. He had reportedly told police he didn’t want to do it himself but law enforcement said they couldn’t get involved as it was a court ruling. ‘We’ve watched, waited, and prayed for justice’ Becky is described in her obituary as a compassionate and generous mother who had found her true calling in nursing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she was a travel nurse at the Northeast Regional Medical Center and Hannibal Regional Hospital in Missouri. Family members and loved ones have also shared memories of the mother-of-three on social media. Following Mr Bliefnick’s arrest in March, a friend of Becky’s wrote on a Facebook post that the slain mother had been consumed by fear in the weeks leading up to her death. “... [W]e’ve watched, waited, and prayed for justice,” the post read. “We have to listen to women when they fear for their or their children’s safety. This could have been prevented. It breaks my heart to know that these boys will grow up without their mama. We have to do better.” A GoFundMe to support Becky’s children has raised more than $100,000. “Despite the circumstances of her death, she is remembered for the life she cherished—a life of compassion, generosity, faith, and fierce love for her family,” the description of the fundraiser read. Bliefnick is sentenced to life in prison Roughly six months after Becky Bliefnick’s killing, her murderer was sentenced to three life terms at a hearing on 11 August. As he handed down the sentence, Adams County Judge Robert Adrian counted to 14 — the number of bullets that Bliefnick unloaded during the attack. “You researched this murder,” Judge Adrian said, according to People. “You planned this murder. You practised this murder. Some of those shots were fired while she was lying on the ground and you did all of that while your children were upstairs at your house, lying snug in their beds.” Bliefnick, who appeared in court wearing orange and white prison scrubs and hand shackles, refused to make a statement. Loved ones of Becky Bliefnick addressed the court and slammed Bliefnick for cutting her life short during their victims’ impact statement. “When you murdered Becky you took from your boys the person who loved them the most on earth,” her grieving mother Bernadette said. “Becky’s family, friends coworkers and patients will never again see her smile, hear her laugh, feel her embrace or receive her love. We are left with emptiness that cannot be filled. We are only left with memories. Your soul is black with hate. Your heart has only love for itself. You should never be allowed to be free again.” Read More Family Feud star faces trial for allegedly shooting wife to death years after joking about marriage on show Bombshell letter where Brian Laundrie’s mother vowed to ‘dispose of body’ is given to Gabby Petito’s parents

Kyrie Irving goes at Adrian Wojnarowski over a headline, and story, he didn't write.

Donald Trump has already been indicted three times this year, twice at the federal level. In April, he was arraigned in New York and pleaded not guilty to state charges after receiving an indictment from Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg accusing him of manipulating his business records to conceal hush money payments allegedly made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016 to stop her discussing an extramarital affair they are said to have had in 2006 in time to derail his presidential run. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith then handed him a federal indictment in May over his alleged mishandling of classified government documents following the conclusion of his one-term presidency and then another in August over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election result, accusing him of conspiracy to defraud the United States, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. In both cases, Mr Trump again pleaded not guilty to all charges. But that’s not all. He could be about to face a fourth indictment, this time from Fani Willis, district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, over his attempts to influence the 2020 vote count in that crucial swing state, which turned blue for Joe Biden and prompted Mr Trump to pressure local secretary of state Brad Raffensperger into helping him “find” the 11,780 ballots he needed to win, a conversation that was recorded and described as “worse than Watergate” by veteran Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein. While Ms Willis hasn’t confirmed that an indictment will be handed down this week, her earlier statements and security measures surrounding the Fulton County courthouse indicate that movement is imminent in the case. No former or sitting president of the United States has ever been formally charged with a crime before, so for Mr Trump to have received multiple indictments is already history-making, another ignominious claim to fame for the first American commander-in-chief ever to have been impeached twice. The prospect of Mr Trump winning the presidency again in November 2024 and then attempting to use his presidential pardoning powers to excuse himself is a fascinating prospect that could yet become a reality. As president between 2017 and 2021, Mr Trump cheerily used his executive clemency powers to hand out pardons to no fewer than 237 people, from Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio to right-wing content creator Dinesh D’Souza by way of cronies like Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and George Papadopoulos. Whether he had the authority to pardon himself was a key question at the time he left office in the aftermath of the deadly Capitol riot of 6 January 2021, which, ultimately, never had to be answered because he did not attempt to do so. The broad consensus among legal experts back then was that there was no stipulation in place to actually prohibit such an act but, given that there was no precedent for it either, it would likely be subjected to a lawsuit calling into question its legal validity. While Mr Trump is now a private citizen and therefore has no such powers, he does find himself in the extraordinary position of being thrice-indicted while simultaneously leading the pack for the Republican Party’s nomination to be its candidate for president in 2024, leaving such rivals as Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Chris Christie eating his dust in the polls. There is nothing in the US Constitution to stop someone from running a presidential campaign while under indictment or even having been convicted of a crime, although its 14th Amendment does prevent anyone from running who has taken an oath of office and thereafter engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” against the country, which could ultimately cause problems for Mr Trump should he be convicted over Mr Smith’s charges pertaining to the Capitol riot. Unless that comes to pass, however, he is free to run for the White House once more. But what would happen if he were to actually win and attempt to use his reinstated pardoning powers for his own benefit is where matters get really knotty. Firstly, presidential pardons are only applicable to federal crimes. While that means he could potentially absolve himself in the classified documents and 2020 election cases brought by Mr Smith, he could not do the same in the indictment brought by Mr Bragg, which is a state affair. Second, the Constitution bans presidents from pardoning themselves from impeachments, meaning any conduct Mr Trump is found guilty of committing in connection with impeachment would not be eligible for a pardon. Third, any pardon would almost certainly result in a Supreme Court case and the court might not be inclined to side with Mr Trump, despite the current conservative majority on its benches. A Justice Department memo from 1974 stated: “Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the president cannot pardon himself.” While that memo is not law, it could be used to argue for precedent should the situation go to court. Therefore, if a scenario were to arise in which Mr Trump won the 2024 election but was convicted on charges in the state case (a trial is scheduled for March) or in the federal case relating to the Capitol riot, over which he was impeached, he would not be allowed to pardon himself, likely resulting in a massive and costly legal fight to spare him jail time. If he found himself unable to avoid that outcome, the situation would almost certainly lead to a third impeachment or his removal from office via the 25th Amendment, which allows the Cabinet to remove a president who is unable to perform their duties. There are many duties and trappings of the presidency an incarcerated person would simply not be able to carry out from a prison cell, like the viewing of classified materials, to name just one. We are still very much in hypothetical territory at this point, with any potential conviction for Mr Trump still a long way off and little more than a distant possibility. But the conversations he has started with his latest bid for the presidency have already pushed parts of theoretical US constitutional law far further than many experts ever believed they might live to see. Read More Trump judge demands court hearing as Jack Smith and ex-president spar over protective order – latest Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon sides with Trump again in classified documents case Former Republican official in Georgia subpoenaed over Trump efforts to change election result Trump and Biden tied in hypothetical 2024 rematch, poll finds Prosecutors have started presenting Georgia election investigation to grand jury Hunter Biden's lawyers say gun portion of plea deal remains valid after special counsel announcement Trump assails judge in 2020 election case after she warned him not to make inflammatory remarks

The James Harden trade market is now in flux after he called out Daryl Morey in China.

Former president Donald Trump inflated attendance numbers of his appearance at the Iowa State Fair, saying he had a record attendance for his campaign stop. Mr Trump gave a press conference at the fairgrounds in Des Moines that was broadcast by Real America’s Voice. “It’s a real honour to be here,” he said. “We have a record that was set. The record is the largest crowd they’ve ever had and I can see that because you can’t get any more people here. I’m very honoured by it, tremendous thing.” Mr Trump attended the state far as he seeks to win the Iowa Caucus, where he came in second place in 2016. Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov Nikki Haley, former vice president Mike Pence and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, among others, also attended the state fair as they attempt to court voters. But all of the candidates significantly trail the former president, who won Iowa in the general election both in 2016 and in 2020 as it has moved from being a battleground to a solidly conservative state. The Des Moines Register reported that the third day of the state fair, on which Mr Trump attended, had 5,000 more people attend than the third day of the 2022 state fair and 118,000 people attended altogether on the third day of the fair. The all-time attendance record for the state record came in 2019 when 1,170,375 attended throughout the entire fair. Mr Trump has regularly inflated attendance numbers for his events. Most notably the day after his inauguration, then-White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters incorrectly that Mr Trump’s inauguration had “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.” The former president made the appearance as he faces three indictments, two on the federal level and another from New York, as well as a potential indictment from the office of the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia. Read More Trump heaps praise on anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist as fourth potential indictment looms in Georgia – latest Republicans slam Biden’s blasé response to questions about Maui wildfires

76ers star James Harden ripped into Philly president Daryl Morey in the latest installment of Harden's contentious contract saga.Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden just stooped down to a whole new level amid a tense and fractured offseason with his team.According to ESPN's Wojnar...