In a notable legal decision, a Florida judge has ruled against dismissing Donald Trump's defamation suit against ABC News and its host, George Stephanopoulos.
A lawsuit by former President Donald Trump against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, claiming defamation, will proceed in Florida court.
The dispute centers around Stephanopoulos’s comments during the "This Week" broadcast on March 10, 2024, where he stated that Trump had been "found liable for rape" in a previous defamation trial involving E. Jean Carroll. However, the jury had actually found Trump liable for sexual abuse, not rape under New York Penal Law, leading to Trump's defamation claim against the news anchor and the network.
The legal challenge hinges on the nuances between the terms 'sexual abuse' and 'rape,' which Trump argues were conflated by Stephanopoulos. This misrepresentation formed the basis of Trump’s lawsuit, as the jury in the Carroll case did not conclude Trump committed rape.
Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the U.S. District Court in Florida, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, issued a 21-page decision rejecting the motion to dismiss. She emphasized that the “fair report privilege,” often a defense in defamation cases, does not apply when the reporting is misleading or lacks essential context.
The ruling pointed out that the specific language used by Stephanopoulos might mislead viewers, thereby necessitating further judicial examination of the case.
In her decision, Judge Altonaga noted that whether Stephanopoulos’s statements were reasonable was not a matter to be decided at the dismissal stage. She articulated, “Defendants have not met their burden of proving the fair report privilege applies,” thus setting the stage for a more detailed examination in court.
Moreover, Altonaga mentioned, “Any remaining questions as to the reasonableness of Stephanopoulos’s statements are not for resolution on a motion to dismiss.” This comment underscores the complexity of defamation law where nuances in language can significantly impact legal outcomes.
ABC News and Stephanopoulos defended their broadcast, arguing that their statements were substantially true based on Judge Lewis A. Kaplan’s interpretations during the related Carroll trials. Kaplan had observed that while the jury's findings did not specify 'rape,' they could be equated to rape in common parlance.
The defense also suggested that Kaplan's rulings should preclude Trump's defamation claims. However, Altonaga found that the context and statements in Stephanopoulos's broadcast were distinct enough to warrant a full trial.
The implications of this decision are significant, as they challenge the bounds of journalistic responsibility and the protections afforded under the fair report privilege.
With Altonaga’s ruling, the case now moves forward to more in-depth proceedings. Both parties are expected to present detailed evidence and arguments, clarifying the context and implications of Stephanopoulos’s statements.
This progression into a full trial underscores the often complex and delicate nature of defamation law, particularly when it involves high-profile figures and nuanced legal definitions.
The outcome of this case may have broader implications for how public figures and media outlets interact and the legal responsibilities media entities face when reporting on judicial outcomes.
Following the judge’s decision, Trump took to Truth Social to comment on the ruling, describing it as a “BIG WIN” and criticizing ABC News and Stephanopoulos for what he termed "FAKE NEWS." His post emphasized his ongoing campaign against what he perceives as biased media coverage, highlighting his MAGA2024 slogan.
Meanwhile, ABC News has been contacted for comments but has not yet responded. This lawsuit has attracted significant media attention, reflecting the ongoing tension between Trump and the press.
As the case develops, further insights are expected into how defamation claims are handled when public figures are involved and the legal thresholds for proving or disproving such claims.
A conservative legal group has launched a sprawling investigation into Kamala Harris' record as a prosecutor, as she emphasizes her background in law enforcement to attack President Trump.
America First Legal is looking into a broad spectrum of Harris' activities as San Francisco DA and California attorney general, from ignoring immigration law to targeting conservative donors.
The investigation traces Harris' ascent through California's political machine, beginning with her appointment to lucrative positions on state boards while she was dating California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.
“Each step up the ladder of her career appears marked by improprieties or scandal. America First Legal will aggressively probe her former offices and fight to ensure the truth reaches the American people," said Dan Epstein, America First Legal Vice President.
The group's investigation includes her failure to seek the death penalty for killer gang members when she was district attorney of San Francisco.
Harris opposed capital punishment while running for the office, and she stuck to that pledge when black gang member David Hill gunned down police officer Issac Espinoza in 2004.
Her decision was opposed by famous California Democrats including then-San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom.
Later, as attorney general of the state of California, Harris permitted a convicted murderer to receive a transgender surgery at taxpayer expense and defended San Francisco's "sanctuary city" policy shielding illegal immigrants.
America First Legal is also probing Harris for violating federal law on donor privacy to potentially intimidate conservative activists.
As a presidential candidate in 2019, Harris' record was criticized mostly from the left, as she was accused of targeting minorities in the war on drugs.
Harris' record as a prosecutor has re-entered the spotlight since Joe Biden ended his re-election bid and endorsed her.
On the campaign trail, Harris has played up her background to push a "prosecutor versus felon" narrative against Trump.
While Harris focuses on Trump's polarizing conviction in New York, some argue Harris is actually showing she endorses politicized justice.
"If the standard for Kamala Harris is that the process that led to Donald Trump being convicted is one of justice and one that she follows, then logically, it means that she is a political prosecutor, not a fair honest broker," Dan Epstein, America First Legal Vice President, told Fox News Digital.
Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are attacking Harris as soft-on-crime, citing her record as a prosecutor and her support of an infamous bail fund that benefited murderers and rapists.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
In comments that prompted a headline warning about his plans to "end the separation of powers" in the U.S. Constitution and "impose his own rules on the Supreme Court," Joe Biden promised Americans in his final months as president he is calling for the court to be changed up.
Democrats and other leftists and liberals have been enraged by the court over the past couple of years, following President Donald Trump's appointment of three relatively conservative justices, because the decisions have not come down the way they want.
Specifically, they have repeatedly lost their cool over the loss of the federal abortion "right" that had been created in the faulty Roe decision that was overturned.
There suddenly was speculation and discussion about changing the court, even though extreme rulings, to the left, drew no such comments for years that the liberals were the majority.
Packing the court with a bunch of new leftists, demanding individual justices stay out of cases when Congress tells them, and more, we're on the plate.
Now a report from the Epoch News notes that Biden, in a speech this week from the Oval Office, said the Supreme Court changes will be one of the projects on which he'll work for his remaining weeks, others being gun control and fighting global warming.
"And I'm going to call for Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy, Supreme Court reform," Biden claimed during his speech filled with stutters and stumbles.
The report cited speculation that Biden wants an "enforceable ethics code."
And he wants to be able to get rid of justices after a certain time.
His spokeswoman, Karine Jean Pierre, explained, "The president believes that when you hold a high office, you should be held by a certain ethics and transparency. That's something that the president believes, and so he certainly will continue to do everything that he can. I don't have any policy announcements to make at this moment."
The progressives in Biden's political party already have said they want term limits, they want to pack the court and they want to review what justices do.
Biden earlier set up a commission to look at recommendations, but it failed the progressives, not endorsing the packing scheme and taking a neutral stance on term limits.
Also triggering fear for progressives is that Biden already has suggested that the next president, elected in November, probably will appoint justices to replace several who may retire in the coming years.
MSNBC voiced the concerns of leftists, saying, "To be sure, the number of justices a president appoints can be more a matter of chance than skill, especially when it comes to variables like a justice's health. That unpredictability alone underscores the importance of each election, as Republican appointees Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are in their mid-70s and Democratic appointee Sonia Sotomayor is 70. It's hard to imagine a Republican-appointed justice stepping down voluntarily during a Democratic administration, and vice versa. Of course, that political reality hasn't played out equally across party lines, leading to today's 6-3 Republican supermajority that has delivered significant wins for the Republican Party."
And the report noted the Supreme Court itself could strike down "reforms reportedly backed by Biden like term limits and an enforceable ethics code."
NPR noted that changes would need to be made by a constitutional amendment, an unlikely scenario, or congressional action, an equally unlikely scenario now with the GOP in the majority in the U.S. House.
Recently, leftists have tried to push to the scandal level some actions by conservative justices, but they had been silent in years gone by when a leftist, the late Ruth Ginsburg, openly blasted a presidential candidate, Donald Trump, while sitting as a justice.
A federal judge has threatened Hunter Biden's lawyers with financial sanctions for lying to the court.
The California judge in Biden's tax evasion case rebuked his lawyers for twisting the facts in their motion to dismiss the charges.
Ironically, Biden's lawyers tried to have the case tossed out by citing one of Donald Trump's legal victories.
To recap, Biden was found guilty of lying about his drug use in a June gun trial. He's also facing charges for tax evasion in California this fall.
Biden has tried to have his cases thrown out on various grounds, including by arguing he is the target of a witch hunt (yes, really.) None of it has worked, so far.
In his latest move, Biden cited the bombshell decision against Special Counsel Jack Smith in Trump's classified documents case. The judge, Aileen Cannon, found that Smith, a private citizen, was unlawfully appointed by attorney general Merrick Garland and threw out the case.
Garland also appointed Special Counsel David Weiss, the Delaware prosecutor going after Hunter.
Biden's lawyers have cited Cannon's ruling to push for Weiss' dismissal, but the California judge in the tax case, Mark Scarsi, notes there is an important distinction.
While Smith is a private citizen, Weiss was already a full-fledged, Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney when he first brought charges against Hunter.
While Biden claims he wasn't charged until after Weiss' promotion, Scarsi said the claims are "not true, and Mr. Biden’s counsel knows they are not true."
Indeed, Weiss was still a U.S. attorney when he charged Hunter with misdemeanors as part of a notorious plea deal that unraveled last summer. Weiss later pursued felony gun and tax charges against Biden.
"The misstatements in the current motion are not trivial. Mr. Weiss’s institution of charges against Mr. Biden in his capacity as U.S. Attorney offers a meaningful distinction between this case and the nonbinding district court decision on which Mr. Biden bases his motion,” Scarsi wrote.
“But Mr. Biden’s motion does not engage with this distinction; instead, counsel avoids the issue by misrepresenting the history of the proceedings,” he continued, adding that the court “has little tolerance for lack of candor from counsel.”
It's just the latest setback for the Biden clan, with a pardon growing more elusive for Hunter after his dad decided to forgo re-election.
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is warning his party not to get cocky about Kamala Harris' presidential bid, warning her "best day" is already behind her.
Joe Biden's decision to end his failing re-election has energized Democrats, but Carville warned that Harris has a long way to go still.
The strategist downplayed the current burst of enthusiasm behind Harris' bid, as she rides a wave of glowing press coverage.
"Right now she’s doing well, very well. But let’s find out why she’s doing very well. She’s doing very well because 72% of the country wanted something different, and she is something different,” Carville said.
Harris' bid has fired up the Democratic base, which had been demoralized by weeks of chaos following Biden's disastrous debate performance. Within a day of Biden ending his campaign, Harris raked in $81 million from donors, and she has seen a bump in the polls.
But Republicans, after getting blindsided by Biden's move, will soon regroup and launch a volley of "brutal attacks," Carville warned. Republicans were "confused" but "they’re getting unconfused now."
Carville warned Democrats that Harris' best days are already behind her.
“But I’m telling you, this is the best day that she’s gonna have for the rest of the campaign," he said.
"Democrats have got to get ready. I hope she can get her campaign, get her operation. It’s hard … you just don’t get into one of these things, turn the key on and it works."
Republicans are hopeful that Harris' momentum will fade after a "honeymoon" period. In the meantime, the GOP is rushing to define Harris as an out-of-touch California liberal with hard-hitting attack ads.
Carville warned MSNBC that Democrats need to get over their "giddy elation" and focus on winning.
“All I’m doing is saying, watch out people. Don’t get too far out there,” Carville told MSNBC. “If we don’t win this, all this good feeling is gonna evaporate and gonna be all for naught.”
The Trump campaign and its allies have focused on Harris' role overseeing the southern border crisis, as well as radical positions she has expressed over the years.
Harris' liberal record is widely seen as an obstacle to winning over swing voters in important Rust Belt battlegrounds.
The California Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to uphold Proposition 22, which allows rideshare drivers like those from Uber and Lyft to remain contract employees rather than as employees with benefits.
The rule gave some limited benefits to contract employees but allowed them to remain employed on a contract basis.
A lower court had ruled the law unconstitutional, which would have required major changes to the way rideshare and other companies that use gig workers operate.
The ruling was expected after the justices seemed to side with proponents of Prop 22 during a ruling in May.
The two sides have been fighting over the rule for years, but it has remained in effect during the fight.
Companies including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and other gig-based companies had threatened to shut down their operations in California if Prop 22 was overturned.
That will not be necessary now.
Gig work is attractive for many who need a flexible schedule and those who need or want to work part-time. It can work well for students, parents caring for young children, and disabled workers who have times when their health does not allow them to work.
"Today marks an historic moment and a landmark victory," general counsel for Instacart Morgan Fong said in a statement Thursday. "Instacart shoppers consistently and overwhelmingly tell us they value their flexibility and independence. The Court’s decision preserves access to the flexible earnings opportunities they want and the important benefits provided under Prop. 22."
More than 1 million people drive for app-based companies in California and would have been impacted by striking down the rule.
The companies spent $200 million campaigning for Prop 22 before it's passing.
Uber spokesperson Zahid Arab said the decision "affirm[ed] the will of the nearly 10 million Californians who voted to deliver historic benefits and protections to drivers, while protecting their independence."
Arab referred to the original vote on Prop 22, which was on the ballot in 2020.
Opponents of the rule tried to argue that the state constitution gave the legislature the exclusive right to determine rules for worker's compensation in the state, but the judge rejected that argument.
John Mayall, a seminal figure in the evolution of blues and rock music, died at his home in California on Monday at the age of 90. Known for his rigorous standards and musical innovation, Mayall's impact on the genre is profound.
John Mayall, the legendary musician behind John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, died peacefully surrounded by family, leaving a substantial legacy in the music world.
His death was confirmed through a heartfelt statement from his family released on social media, noting his recent cessation of touring due to health issues, though the exact cause of death was not disclosed.
Mayall's career spanned over several decades, during which he founded the influential British blues rock band, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. This band became a launchpad for many musicians who would go on to achieve worldwide fame.
Among those who were part of Mayall's band were Mick Taylor, who later joined the Rolling Stones, and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, illustrating Mayall's knack for recognizing and nurturing talent.
His role in the music industry was further recognized in 2024 when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame under the Musical Influence Award category.
In the 1970s, after relocating to the United States, Mayall began experimenting with various music forms, integrating elements of funk, pop, and jazz into his work. This period marked a significant evolution in his musical style, appealing to a broader audience.
Despite his fame, Mayall was known for his uncompromising musical standards, often parting ways with band members who did not meet his high expectations.
His dedication to music was mirrored in his personal commitment to his band and the blues genre, influencing countless artists and music enthusiasts worldwide.
John Mayall is survived by an extensive family, including six children, two wives, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reflecting his full and vibrant personal life alongside his public musical career.
He leaves behind not just family but also a legacy through his secretary, Jane, and his close friends, all of whom played significant roles in his life and career.
The global music community and fans mourn the loss of a true pioneer, whose influence will continue to be felt for generations to come.
Through John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Mayall not only made his mark on the music itself but also on the lives of those he mentored. His strict approach to music ensured that only those who were deeply dedicated remained, which helped maintain the high quality of the band's output.
The musicians who passed through his band are a testament to his ability to foster talent and push the boundaries of the blues genre into new territories.
His approach has been studied and admired by many in the music industry, serving as a blueprint for success in a challenging and competitive field.
John Mayall's influence on blues and rock music is immeasurable, with his career providing a bridge between traditional blues and the evolving rock scene of the 60s and beyond. His experimental approach in the 70s further showcased his versatility and willingness to embrace change.
His induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was a fitting tribute to his contributions to music, spotlighting his role as a major influencer in the industry.
Mayall's music and the bands he nurtured remain essential listening for anyone interested in the history of modern music.
As Democrats scramble to "reintroduce" Kamala Harris to the American people, Republicans are eager to remind voters that she had a direct hand in the Biden administration's unpopular agenda.
Donald Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, said Harris is "much more liberal" than Joe Biden and she will "double down" on the same policies of the last four years.
The presidential race remains a choice between the Biden-Harris administration's "failed record" and Trump's promise of renewed prosperity, Vance told Charlie Kirk.
"The contrast couldn’t be clearer, and that hasn’t changed. The issues couldn’t be clearer, and that hasn’t changed,” Vance said.
Since Biden ended his re-election bid, Republicans have moved to define Harris as dangerously radical and incompetent, pointing to her role overseeing the border crisis, as well as her support of a bail fund that benefited murderers and rapists.
"She’s going to double down on it. In fact…she’s much more liberal than even Joe Biden was,” Vance said.
In a matter of days, Harris has received a blast of positive news coverage, some of it outright misleading.
While the media will try to sanitize her record, Republicans have a compelling argument to make, Vance said. They just have to remind voters who Harris really is.
"And we have to constantly remind people that she failed as vice president. Her administration led to higher prices on everything, from groceries to housing, a wide open southern border, a drug crisis, and we need new leadership," Vance said.
Republicans see immigration as a critical vulnerability for Harris, given voter dissatisfaction with the massive influx of illegal immigrants since Biden and Harris took office.
“The idea of letting in thousands, millions of illegal migrants, a lot of them who have committed crimes in their own country, and then giving them taxpayer-funded benefits — it completely turns people off,” Vance answered.
Since Biden dropped out of the presidential race, some pundits have argued Trump miscalculated by choosing Vance, a Trump-y populist, for a running mate. Many saw Trump's choice as a confident pick and a signal that Trump would focus on energizing his base.
But Trump told Fox News he has no regrets.
“He’s fantastic,” Trump said of Vance. “No it wouldn’t have mattered. And I thought she was probably going to happen anyway."
Jill Biden waved a white flag over the White House on Wednesday, thanking supporters of her husband as the 81-year-old president formally announced he would not seek a second term.
It's a stunning capitulation from the Biden family, which spent three tumultuous weeks clinging to power after Biden's career-ending debate performance.
As longtime allies started to abandon Biden, his wife insisted he was "all in." In a stunning reversal on Sunday, Biden said he would forgo re-election.
Biden broke the historic news in a letter posted online, and Jill responded with a heart emoji.
In another post on Wednesday night, Jill Biden urged Democrats to rally behind vice president Kamala Harrs, who has quickly become the frontrunner to replace her husband. She also thanked her husband's supporters for sticking with him over the years.
"To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude,” Jill Biden wrote. “Thank you for the trust you put in Joe–now it’s time to put that trust in Kamala. Love, Jill.”
Jill Biden was in the Oval Office to support her husband on Wednesday night, along with her stepson Hunter and other family members as Joe Biden gave a formal speech about his decision.
In the speech, Biden did not say why he was stepping aside, merely declaring he would "pass the torch" to the next generation. Of course, he took veiled swipes at Trump, echoing hyperbolic campaign rhetoric that Trump would end "democracy."
"I revere this office, but I love my country more," Biden said.
"It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it's more important than any title."
Biden's decision marks the end of his 50-year career in politics, which saw him rise to the Senate as a young man and seek the presidency twice unsuccessfully before finally achieving his ambition in 2020.
One might call Biden's speech a farewell, except he has not resigned, sparking protests from Republicans who say he isn't fit to continue serving.
The White House has denied that Biden's health had anything to do with his decision.
Newly released police bodycam video from the Trump assassination attempt shows police discovering a transmitter for an explosive device next to the shooter's dead body.
The dramatic video also shows police and a Secret Service agent identifying the dead shooter as the same man who was photographed acting suspiciously before the attack.
The video was recorded by a Beaver County Emergency Services Unit officer and shared with Republican Senator Chuck Grassley (IA).
In the video, officers are seen rushing to access the rooftop that Thomas Matthew Crooks used to shoot at Trump.
A trail of blood is seen on the roof leading to Crooks' body. Next to his body, police make a troubling discovery: an electronic transmitter.
"It is a remote control device. It is gray in color, about five, six inches tall," an officer says, urging the FBI to "hurry the (expletive) up."
FBI director Christopher Wray told Congress Wednesday that Crooks had two explosive devices in his car and another at home.
It's unclear why the bombs were left in his car, but Wray said they were capable of being blown up remotely.
Secret Service has faced scrutiny for its failure to secure the rooftop, as well as its response to numerous warnings of suspicious activity before the shooting. A Beaver County sniper noticed a suspicious man using a rangefinder on the ground and took a photo.
The bodycam video shows Secret Service and police confirming that the dead body matches the man in the photo.
"A Beaver County sniper seen and sent the pictures out, this is him," the officer with the bodycam says.
"I don't know if you got the same ones I did?" the officer asks the Secret Service agent.
"I think I did, yeah, he's got his glasses on," the agent replies.
The men also discuss a suspicious abandoned bike. The officer says the sniper saw the shooter walk from the bike and set a bag down, then "lost sight of him."
FBI director Wray told Congress that Crooks had a collapsible stock, which made it easier to conceal his gun. He may have accessed the rooftop by climbing pipes.
Wray also said Crooks used a drone to scout the area two hours before the shooting. The drone would have given Crooks a view of the area behind him when he was on the rooftop.