Mexico City mayor says police arrest 13 in connection with killings of her staffers
Brugada promised more details at a news conference scheduled for later Wednesday, but said three of those arrested allegedly were directly involved in the killings and the others allegedly had roles in the logistics.
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Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gov. Cox defends Utah Senate president
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox stood by state Senate President Stuart Adams on Thursday, defending the top lawmaker's decision not to disclose his personal connection to a law inspired by the criminal case of his granddaughter. During a tense exchange with reporters, Cox said there is no need for an investigation into Adams' behavior because he and Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper, have openly stated the extent of their involvement in the law's passage. 'There's nothing to investigate,' Cox said. 'The facts of this are very, very clear.' What is the new law? The provision, which passed in 2024 as part of SB213, allows 18-year-old high school students to be charged as 17-year-olds if they engage in noncoercive sexual activity with teenagers who are 13. In a stated effort to keep the process fair, Adams did not tell legislators, except for Cullimore — the bill's primary sponsor — that his granddaughter was currently the defendant in a Davis County criminal case falling into that category. Cullimore has said that after Adams told him about his granddaughter's situation in 2023 he contacted her defense attorney, Cara Tangaro, to identify statutory changes to prevent high school students from being charged with child rape when no force was involved. The change was discussed in committee hearings and floor debates before passing as part of the 49-page criminal justice omnibus bill. The law did not apply retroactively to Adams' granddaughter, but it was referenced at her sentencing. Court observers disagree on the extent to which the law may have shaped the eventual plea bargain that let the granddaughter avoid a prison sentence and sex offender designation. 'I don't think there are any facts in dispute,' Cox said. 'He talked to the Senate majority leader. The Senate majority leader took that information and he proposed a piece of legislation.' Calls for Adam to resign State Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, Utah Democratic Party Chair Brian King, and activist groups across the political spectrum have called on Adams to resign, alleging that he abused his power. But Cox said these criticisms are unfounded. This is the process taken by many pieces of legislation, the governor said, and by not disclosing his personal situation, including to Cox, Adams allowed lawmakers to focus on the policy's merits. 'Every single legislator has experiences in their life where they see something that they feel may be unjust, and that influences the way they bring legislation to the table,' Cox said. Cox pushed back against some legislators who have said the provision was snuck into the bill late in the process. It was part of the initial draft and was debated by stakeholders, Cox said, adding that those who say they didn't know about the provision are 'lying to you, or they're a terrible legislator.' Review will happen Cox repeatedly said he was 'grateful' that Adams had not told him 'this was impacting someone in his family' because it may have changed how he 'reacted to the bill.' But Cox said he and others now have a chance to revisit the legislation if needed. On Friday, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz announced the creation of a working group of policy experts to 'review' SB213 and analyze state laws related to unlawful sexual activity among high school students. In an interview with Deseret News and last week, Adams said he had no participation in the drafting of the provision, or its placement in SB213, and said the way the bill became law 'was done ethically and morally perfect.' Cox said on Thursday that Adams made the right call by staying out of the legislative process as much as he could as it related to the provision — even if it was initiated by his concerns tied to a family connection. 'I think it was appropriate for the top person in the Senate not to weigh in on this bill, which is exactly what happened,' Cox told reporters. 'He did not weigh in on this bill — I can only imagine what you would have written if he had.' Play Farm Merge Valley
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report of active shooter at Villanova University a ‘cruel hoax,' university president says
A 'cruel hoax' sent Villanova University students sheltering into place on the first day of orientation after a false report of an active shooter, the school's president said, prompting a massive response by local and federal law enforcement as they worked to secure the campus. No injuries were reported and no weapons were found, Peter M. Donohue, the university's president, said in a letter sent to the campus community and obtained by CNN. The first campus alert went out around 4:35 p.m. ET, during an opening mass, which was set to be followed by a family picnic. 'ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors. More info to follow,' read an alert on the campus website. The anonymous report indicated there was an active shooter in the Charles Widger School of Law and claimed at least one person was wounded, school and police officials said. 'Panic and terror ensued' after the report, Donohue said in the letter. Police and fire officials swarmed the area of the law school, with some armed officers on the roof, as they worked to clear buildings and look for a possible shooter or victims, video from CNN affiliate WPVI showed. None were found. 'While it is a blessing and relief, I know today's events have shaken our entire community,' Donohue said in the letter sent just after 6 p.m. He apologized to first-year students and their families. 'This is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you,' he said. Authorities seek to prosecute person responsible New student orientation and registration began Thursday and is scheduled to go until Saturday, while classes begin Monday, according to the school's academic calendar. The reports came hours after the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sent an active-shooter alert and the campus went on lockdown. Police later said the authorities found 'no evidence of a threat.' Authorities are investigating the Tennessee incident as a possible case of swatting, a law enforcement source told CNN. Swatting is a dangerous criminal hoax where a false report is made to police with the express purpose of luring them to a location, where they are led to believe a horrific crime such as a mass shooting, an imminent bombing, or hostage taking has been committed or is in progress. This can result in a forceful response from local police and SWAT teams, who have no way to know the call is a hoax. Swatting has been on the FBI's radar for nearly two decades, and gained notoriety after high-profile celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian became victims. In a 2008 assessment of the 'new phenomenon,' the FBI said a group of recently convicted swatters were motivated by 'bragging rights and ego, versus any monetary gain,' noting group members 'did it because they could.' Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he directed state police to 'use every tool at our disposal' to find the person responsible for the swatting incident. 'I know today was every parent's worse nightmare, and every student's biggest fear,' Shapiro said in an X post. 'I am profoundly grateful no one was hurt, and thankful to all members of law enforcement who ran towards reports of danger to keep Pennsylvanians safe.' Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer echoed Shapiro's sentiments. 'My office, Investigation Division, the FBI, will all work to try to get to the bottom of who might have done this,' Stollsteimer said during a news conference Thursday. 'We will track you down if it's the last thing we do.' Villanova is a private Catholic university in the suburbs of Philadelphia and is the alma mater of Pope Leo XIV. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Josh Campbell, Danny Freeman and Amanda Musa contributed to this report.
CNN
38 minutes ago
- CNN
Fast-tracked karaoke bar permit and a chip bag of cash: New corruption accusations hit Eric Adams' associates before election
New York City Mayor Eric Adams' former chief advisor was accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes, the latest in a long string of corruption scandals involving the mayor's inner circle as he seeks reelection in November. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the city's Department of Investigation announced charges Thursday, accusing Ingrid Lewis-Martin of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes and other benefits in a series of corruption schemes spread across several city agencies. The wide-ranging indictments also involve Lewis-Martin's son, two siblings who own a prominent soundstage studio company in the city and a former New York State senator who works as a deputy commissioner at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and is a close ally of the mayor. 'We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in classic bribery conspiracies that had a deep and wide-ranging impact on City government,' Bragg said in a statement. 'As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets.' While Mayor Adams is not mentioned in the indictment and has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the latest legal troubles involving members of his inner circle are likely to reinforce the perception of a persistent cloud of corruption and government malfeasance that has hung over City Hall during Adams' entire administration. The indictments come at a politically perilous time for the mayor, who is seeking a second term running as an independent after opting out of the Democratic primary following his own corruption scandal last year. A spokesperson for Adams' campaign told CNN in a statement the mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and is staying focused on serving New Yorkers. 'While Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration, she has been a friend and colleague of the mayor for over 40 years, and he knows her as a devoted public servant; she has declared her innocence, and his prayers are with her and her family,' Todd Shapiro said. A federal judge formally dismissed corruption and bribery charges against Adams in April, sparking controversy and leading to the resignation of several high-profile prosecutors. As part of its directive to dismiss the charges, the Department of Justice said charges against the mayor were preventing him from doing his job, including cooperating with President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Adams' opponents frequently point to the directive and the mayor's unwillingness to criticize Trump to suggest he is compromised and unfit to defend the city from the president's attacks. Adams has consistently said he wants to have a working relationship with the Trump administration, specifically on issues of immigration. Polling released earlier this year shows Adams facing historically low approval ratings among New York City voters. Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is also running as an independent, consistently try to tie him to Trump. Mamdani called for 'a new era of leadership' in reaction to the new charges. 'New Yorkers are paying the price as another flurry of indictments continue to erode their trust in our democracy and distract from the affordability crisis that demands action and urgency,' he said in a statement to CNN. Cuomo, who was forced to resign from office after his own set of political scandals, stopped short of calling on Adams to resign. 'I don't believe he is viable,' Cuomo said during an unrelated education policy announcement in Manhattan Thursday. 'I think New Yorkers have made it clear that they just have had enough of Mayor Adams,' Cuomo said. 'New Yorkers shouldn't trust him, and I think that is unforgivable what he did.' The charges unsealed against Lewis-Martin, who the mayor has often referred to as his 'sister,' allege criminal activity in close proximity to the mayor, including an alleged conspiracy where Lewis-Martin obtained approval for a residential renovation project in exchange for thousands of dollars of catering for events at Gracie Mansion and City Hall, according to court documents. According to the indictments, Lewis-Martin allegedly used her influential position at City Hall to help steer government contracts, fast-track permits for a karaoke bar in Queens and intervene in policy decisions in exchange for cash, speaking roles and a television appearance. Prosecutors allege Lewis-Martin influenced the city's Department of Transportation to withdraw its approval for renovations on a road frequently used by 'Broadway Stages,' a production company run by Gina and Tony Argento – two high-powered donors who run one of New York City's biggest soundstage companies. In exchange, Lewis-Martin allegedly received $2,500, roughly $10,000 in catering services for an event at Gracie Mansion and a speaking role on the TV show 'Godfather of Harlem,' which was filmed at the Argentos' studios. Lewis-Martin and seven other co-defendants, including a corporation along with former State Senator Jesse Hamilton, were arraigned in Manhattan criminal court Thursday. A second corporation was indicted, but not arraigned Thursday. All the defendants at the arraignment pleaded not guilty to the charges. CNN has reached out to attorneys for Lewis-Martin's son and the Argentos for comment. Arthur Aidala, an attorney for Lewis-Martin, dismissed the accusations Thursday. 'Ingrid Lewis Martin is facing charges classified at the lowest level of felony in our justice system. Her only so-called 'offense' was fulfilling her duty—helping fellow citizens navigate the City's outdated and often overwhelming bureaucracy. At no point did she receive a single dollar or any personal benefit for her assistance,' Aidala said in a statement. 'Yet, the District Attorney seeks to portray a dedicated and honest public servant as a criminal. This is not justice—it is a distortion of the truth and a troubling example of politically motivated 'lawfare.' We will vigorously fight these charges and ensure that the facts prevail. The public deserves to know the truth, and we will not allow this injustice to stand.' Lewis-Martin, who was previously indicted on separate corruption charges last year – which she pleaded not guilty to – resulting in her resignation, is a close personal friend of the mayor. The two have worked side by side for decades after he first recruited her to run his campaign for the State Senate in 2004. Lewis-Martin was seen as having a great deal of power and authority at City Hall. In her official capacity, she was tasked with overseeing human resources and mayoral appointments, but through the years Adams gave her additional authority to work on a range of issues, including the city budget, housing and rezoning proposals. Hamilton and Adams also have a long history. The former Brooklyn State Senator was Adams' hand-picked successor in the legislature when Adams vacated the seat to run for Brooklyn Borough president. Years after losing his senate seat in 2018, Adams hired him as an attorney for the city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services where he was quickly promoted to deputy commissioner of real estate services. Hamilton resigned Thursday from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, his attorney and the agency commissioner confirmed. Hamilton's attorney, Mark Pollard, told CNN in a statement Thursday that his client pleaded not guilty to the charges and 'looks forward to clearing his name and continuing his commitment to the people of the City and State of New York.' 'He has dedicated his career to serving the people of this city and state with integrity in numerous positions including his years of service as a New York State Senator and a District Leader,' the statement reads. 'These allegations do not reflect who he is, what he stands for, or the record of service he has built over decades. We are confident that when the facts are brought to light, it will be clear that he has committed no wrongdoing.' Adams' campaign spokesperson said the mayor 'also recognizes that Jesse Hamilton has pleaded not guilty, and like anyone accused, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. His commitment to New Yorkers is unwavering—no distraction will ever take his eyes off the ball or his dedication to this great city we all call home.' The indictment of Adams' former top advisor came a day after another member of Adams' inner circle became embroiled in a bizarre apparent bribery attempt involving a news reporter. The online news outlet THE CITY reported Wednesday former Adams advisor and campaign volunteer Winnie Greco attempted to give money stuffed inside a bag of potato chips to Katie Honan, a reporter for THE CITY who has covered several of the administration's corruption scandals. Greco allegedly attempted the payoff following a campaign event in Harlem. THE CITY reported Greco asked Honan to meet her near a new campaign office located next to a TD Bank. After walking to a nearby Whole Foods, Greco handed Honan the crumpled bag of chips. Honan opened the bag as the two parted ways to find a red envelope stuffed with cash. 'The fact that one of mayor Adams' closest, longtime advisors would attempt to ingratiate herself to any reporter, much less Katie Honan with a cash gift is deeply disturbing and speaks to a rampant and blatant disregard for the role of a free and fair press,' Richard Kim, editor in chief for THE CITY, told CNN in a statement. Greco is a longtime Adams advisor and close ally of the mayor. She resigned from her position as City Hall's liaison to the Asian community after her home was raided by the FBI as part of a separate inquiry by the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York last year. Steven Brill, an attorney for Greco, told CNN Thursday the whole thing was a misunderstanding. 'This is not a payoff, this is not a bag of cash in some dark alley, it's not any quid pro quo for favorable news coverage, this was merely a gesture of kindness and affection that Winnie tried to convey to this reporter,' Brill said. According to Brill, Greco used a red token envelope, traditionally used in Chinese custom, as part of what she thought would be accepted as a gift. 'Any implication that it had any nefarious intent is really unimaginable. In retrospect Winnie realizes it was misconstrued. Once she realized, she apologized, she was embarrassed.' Following the incident, Greco, who had been working on the Adams' reelection campaign as a volunteer, was asked to discontinue her work for the campaign, her attorney said.
