and now it really begins ...

[drjohncarpenter]

This week, CURRENT president.











God bless President Joseph R. Biden.

A leader, respected all over the world.

[BrianTCB]

Hahahahaha. GOOD. Let Trump (Hitler) burn and rot in hell. A dirtbag rapist criminal, through and through.

Judge rejects Trump's bid to learn juror names at defamation trial

https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-rejects-trumps-bid-learn-202548242.html

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump will not learn the identities of jurors expected to decide at an upcoming civil trial whether the former president defamed the writer E. Jean Carroll, who also claims Trump raped her.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan on Friday rejected Trump's renewed effort to require that prospective jurors provide their names, employment and 38 other pieces of information on written questionnaires.

Kaplan said the law was "abundantly clear" it was his choice whether to use questionnaires, and nothing has changed his decision to seat an anonymous jury at the April 25 trial, reflecting the threat of juror harassment.

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump had argued that his recent criminal indictment filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had brought on a "deluge of prejudicial media coverage" that would make it tough to find an impartial jury in Carroll's civil case.

His lawyers said the coverage dwarfed the media attention given to Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, biotech executive Elizabeth Holmes and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell just before their recent high-profile criminal trials began.

While jurors would hear much about Trump even in "normal" circumstances, "the risk of prejudice is even more elevated" because of Bragg's case, Trump's lawyers said.

Trump is leading the Republican field for the 2024 presidential election.

Carroll, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, has said Trump forced himself upon her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in late 1995 or early 1996.

The trial concerns whether Trump defamed her in October 2022 by saying the rape claim was a "hoax" and "lie" and that she was not his "type."

Carroll also wants Trump found liable for rape under a New York law giving adults a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers even if statutes of limitations have expired.

She is separately suing Trump for defamation over his June 2019 denial that the dressing room encounter happened.

The case is Carroll v Trump, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-10016.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

[BrianTCB]

Unbelievable that they got away with a settlement. Scumbags to the very core!!!

[rickeap]

The reputation of Fox News is in tatters, Trump's Big Lie has been exposed yet again as a Big Lie with no credibility.

[drjohncarpenter]

Unbelievable that they got away with a settlement. Scumbags to the very core!!!

You should wait to learn the terms of the settlement before blowing a gasket.

And nearly a billion dollars paid out is hardly "getting away with it."

Plus, there is a another lawsuit against Fox News yet to come with the Smartmatic voting machine company. The propaganda network that is Fox News did the same thing to them.

“Thank you, Jesus,” a woman exclaimed inside the courthouse after Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems announced they had reached a $787.5 million settlement in a would-be blockbuster defamation case. Many court watchers and general Fox haters had another reaction: what a letdown.

If you are in the latter camp, fear not: There may soon be another chance to see Fox defend itself in court. Shortly after the settlement announcement, J. Erik Connolly, a lawyer for Smartmatic, issued a statement: “Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest.”

Sequel!

Smartmatic v. Fox News: The Dominion settlement may have nothing on the next blockbuster case.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/04/smartmatic-fox-news-lawsuit-dominion-settlement-complaint.html

[rickeap]

Has anyone seen this embarrassing and horrendous rip-off?
Elvis's estate should sue.
Trump has serious mental health problems.

[rickeap]

Unbelievable that they got away with a settlement. Scumbags to the very core!!!

Lying scumbags more like it, but the settlement is still significant and a clear slap against the dishonesty of the network. Fox News has no credibility.

[BrianTCB]

[BrianTCB]

Unbelievable that they got away with a settlement. Scumbags to the very core!!!

Lying scumbags more like it, but the settlement is still significant and a clear slap against the dishonesty of the network. Fox News has no credibility.

True. The scumbag label inherently assumes they are also liars, though. I was saving typing energy

[BrianTCB]

Bye-bye!!!!! Hahahahaaaa

[drjohncarpenter]

Adios.



















Obviously a lot more to this story.

But good riddance to a cancer on our precious democracy.

[BrianTCB]

Did I come to gloat? Yooooooooouuuuuubetcha. (sarcasm) I'm sorry to those who will miss him. (/sarcasm)

(for those who are paying attention: no, I'm not actually sorry at all)



Tucker Carlson out at Fox News

https://www.axios.com/2023/04/24/tucker-carlson-fox-news-out

Fox News on Monday said the network and its star primetime host Tucker Carlson "have agreed to part ways," after more than a decade.

Driving the news: Carlson's last program was Friday April 21st, Fox News said, meaning he did not get a chance to sign off to his viewers.

Why it matters: The news comes days after Fox News reached a historic 11th hour settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for over $787 million.

Be smart: A source familiar with the situation told Axios that the firing was not part of the settlement agreement.

The decision to fire Carlson was made Friday night by Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott.

A slew of material was uncovered during pre-trial discovery that implicated Carlson. More information could be out there that could be legally damaging for Fox as it stares down more defamation cases.

A former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who is suing the network for allegedly trying to manipulate her testimony during pre-trial discovery for the Dominion case, said in a legal filing just before the trial that there were Fox News tapes showing Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies admitting they had no evidence to support their claims about Dominion election fraud.

In private text messages with other Fox News hosts, Carlson pressed to get a fellow Fox News reporter fired for accurately fact-checking a tweet from Donald Trump that praised Fox News' coverage about the voting machines and referenced Dominion Voting Systems.

Carlson did not immediately respond to an Axios request for comment.

Details: "Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named," Fox News said in a statement.

The network said it thanked Carlson "for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor."

Asked whether the firing was a part of the settlement last week, Dominion spokesperson said "Nothing from us on that right now."
On Monday, shortly after the news was announced, Fox News host Harris Faulkner confirmed the changes.

"We have some News from within our Fox family. Fox News media and Tucker Carlson have mutually agreed to part ways," she said.

"We want to thank Tucker Carlson for his service to the network, as host and prior to that as a long-term contributor."

Editor's note: This is a breaking story and will be updated.

[drjohncarpenter]

Today, CURRENT president.















God bless President Joseph R. Biden.

Every good American should and will support his re-election.

Our precious democracy depends on it.

[BrianTCB]

Joe Biden has my vote!!!!

[drjohncarpenter]

Yesterday, EX vice-president.















The circle grows ever smaller.

More than seven hours of testimony.

A former vice-president answering questions in an investigation of the former president.

No one is above the law.

Hold on tight America, justice is a-comin'

[drjohncarpenter]

Past weekend, CURRENT president.


























Wow. President Joseph R. Biden.

Hilarious, bulls-eye after bulls-eye at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Reminding the media that truth matters. Lies destroy democracy.

All with a smile. What a leader.

[drjohncarpenter]

And the circle gets smaller still.



















Remember the forum extremists who said there were no weapons on Jan 6th?

Who said no one had been charged with seditious conspiracy?

Where are they now?

No one is above the law.

"Stand back and stand by."

In solitary.

[drjohncarpenter]

Only one rung left.















Hold on tight, America.

Justice is a-comin'.

[BrianTCB]

Justice is still a-comin'...and it's here!!

Exactly what was that the Trumpers said, again?

[BrianTCB]

And another one has dropped...

[drjohncarpenter]

Ex-president is found LIABLE for sexual abuse, defamation.



























It's very sad this despicable man ever set foot in the Oval Office.

Again justice is served for this criminal, his pathetic response to this civil case ain't worth much.

[drjohncarpenter]

Also yesterday, EX president.











Even Fox "News" knows where this is heading.

Truth matters. Elections matter. Democracy matters.

Hold on tight, America, more justice is a-comin'.

[drjohncarpenter]

About last night.







Steve Schmidt reacts to CNN’s “embarrassing” town hall with Donald Trump | The Warning





Appalling broadcast from the "new" CNN.

Former GOP strategist zeros in on the failure from a once-respected news network.

[BrianTCB]

FBI agents raid condo unit owned by Russians at Trump Towers in Sunny Isles


https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article275358451.html

The trio of Trump Towers on Sunny Isles Beach draws its share of gawkers, thanks to Donald Trump’s licensing deal that plastered his name on the oceanfront development. But on Thursday, the luxury high-rise complex drew the attention of law enforcement, namely the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A squad of FBI special agents, assisted by local police, descended on Trump Tower III at 15811 Collins Ave. to carry out a search of unit 4102. It’s owned by a shell company, MIC-USA LLC, that is controlled by two Russian businessmen, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Agunda Konstantinovna Makeeva, according to state corporation records. On Friday, a spokesman for the FBI’s Miami field office said it “was conducting court-ordered law enforcement activity in the vicinity of that location,” but provided no other information.

Patsulya and Makeeva could not be reached for comment. Patsulya’s wife, Roza Pereira, who state records show is also listed on the corporate paperwork for MIC-USA, said she was aware of the FBI’s raid.

“I can’t talk about it,” Pereira told the Miami Herald. “The lawyer [for my husband] said not to talk to anyone. ... I have no idea what it’s about.” Sunny Isles Beach has been dubbed “LIttle Moscow” by locals because it’s home to many Russian expatriates. Some expressed concerns about a backlash against their affluent beachfront community after the Russian military invaded Ukraine last year and the U.S. government started pursuing sanctions against oligarchs who hide their wealth in real estate in South Florida and other parts of the country.

Before becoming president in 2016, Trump signed a deal with the developers of the 45-story condo buildings to name the property after him to help promote sales. Foreign buyers, especially from Latin America and Russia, flocked to Trump Towers, as they did with other Trump-branded properties in Sunny Isles Beach.

Among the buyers: MIC-USA, which acquired the three-bedroom, three-bath condo residence at Trump Tower III for $1.65 million a decade ago, according to Miami-Dade property records.

In 2020, BAC Florida Bank, which provided financing for the purchase, sued Patsulya and Makeeva, claiming they defaulted on their $975,000 mortgage. The dispute was resolved later that year, though it’s not clear how from the court records. MIC-USA, controlled by the two Russians, continued to own the 41st-floor unit at Trump Tower III.

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article275358451.html#storylink=cpy

[BrianTCB]

Two down, one to go...