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The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Fresh call for Scotland to investigate Donald Trump's finances
Since February 2017, the party's co-leader Patrick Harvie has led calls for an investigation into the purchase of land for Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire and the Trump Turnberry resort in Ayrshire. He has argued that the Scottish Government should grant an Unexplained Wealth Order, a mechanism that allows investigations into 'politically exposed persons' like Trump suspected of involvement in serious crime. READ MORE: When exactly is Donald Trump landing in Scotland? All the details It comes after the New York State Supreme Court found Trump and his company guilty of civil fraud in February last year, finding them guilty of falsely inflating the value of Trump's assets – including his golf course in Aberdeen – which he has appealed. The former president was also subsequently convicted by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Now, Harvie (below) has called again for the Scottish Government to grant an Unexplained Wealth Order. In a column for The National, he said: 'Given that the criminal charges brought against Trump in New York cited his Menie golf estate in Aberdeenshire, getting answers from the Trump Organisation as to the valuation of his property and where he got the money from is the responsible thing for our own government to do. 'Otherwise, we are sending a global message that wealthy individuals in positions of power like Trump are above the law. That sets a dangerous precedent, one that cannot become Scotland's legacy.' Harvie added: 'He has faced many losses with business ventures going bust and claiming bankruptcy. And yet he continues to keep a foothold in Scotland, with his golf estates barely turning profits until after he was charged and scrutinised in court. 'Scotland is not in short supply of golf courses, but it seems that we are in short supply of moral fibre. That was demonstrated when the Scottish planning system was overturned to allow him to build his golf course in the first place, trashing a piece of coastline which, at least on paper, had the highest level of environmental protection possible. 'But that same lack of courage in holding the super-rich to account is still being demonstrated today, with every day that passes without the Government using its power to find out where the money for Trump's business dealings in Scotland actually came from.' The Greens MSP went on: 'Trump is a politically active individual who has purposely shielded his tax information to avoid public scrutiny, the first US president who is a convicted criminal, and an individual with dozens of allegations of sexual assault spanning back to the 1970s. 'But the title of president does not make him immune to following laws in his own country or ours. If anything, it should make our Government duty-bound to enforce those laws and hold him to account, to set an example for the world to follow. 'Self-proclaimed elites like Trump do not get a free pass just because they are powerful. He must face the same scrutiny and legal challenges as our own politicians and citizens do.'
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Democratic Governors: What's the GOP Budget Bill? A Big Betrayal of the Middle Class
The GOP is calling it a big, beautiful bill. We're calling it what it really is—a big betrayal. That's why we don't like what we're seeing coming out of Washington, D.C., right now. When President Donald Trump said this bill would be "big," he was right in one sense: this bill will be a big problem for Americans across the country. The whole point of the legislation is to give massive tax handouts to the very wealthy. To do this, the GOP is willing to cut necessities like Medicaid and food assistance that their own constituents rely on. And because those handouts to billionaires are so big, this bill will also explode the national deficit. People in every corner of America will feel the effects of Trump and congressional Republicans' disastrous budget now that it is law. You deserve to know exactly what's in it. President Donald Trump talks to members of the media outside the court room at the New York State Supreme Court on the first day of his civil fraud trial, in New York City, on October... President Donald Trump talks to members of the media outside the court room at the New York State Supreme Court on the first day of his civil fraud trial, in New York City, on October 2, 2023. More KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images Let's start with health care. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this bill would hurt working families most. It will terminate health care coverage for an estimated 16 million Americans, including 8 million children on Medicaid. This will be a disaster for our most vulnerable citizens: those fighting cancer and other life-threatening conditions, along with seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. It will jack up health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs for everybody else. Americans already pay more for health care than they should. Why make working families pay more just so billionaires can get a massive tax break? The Republican budget bill also jeopardizes food assistance for millions of Americans and will make it harder for working moms and dads to feed themselves and their kids. No one should be forced to go to bed hungry—42 million people in our country rely on SNAP assistance to get by. It's an essential program that saves people money so they can pay their rent and keep the lights on. This bill will force families to choose between feeding their children, making sure they have reliable child care to go to work, and paying their other bills. That's a choice no American should have to make. Not only does this bill greenlight massive health care and food assistance cuts, but it will pose massive threats to rural communities. Rural hospitals in red and blue states, already struggling to keep their doors open and provide care, will be at a greater risk of shutting down. Farmers who provide the food that SNAP helps people buy will have fewer buyers for their products. The GOP is claiming states will be able to backfill the huge funding gaps we've just listed out. As governors who have to balance budgets every single year, we'll give it to you straight: that's ridiculous. There's just no way state budgets can make up the difference. Each of us goes to bed each night and wakes up each morning thinking about how to best serve the people of our states—fixing the roads, bringing in more good-paying jobs to make life more affordable, and funding our public schools. In other words, we put the people we serve first. If politicians in D.C. did the same, they wouldn't have let this big betrayal of American families become law. Gretchen Whitmer is the governor of Michigan. Laura Kelly is the governor of Kansas. Michelle Lujan Grisham is the governor of New Mexico. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- USA Today
Diddy's legal team claims win after judge issues ruling in civil sexual assault case
A week after Sean "Diddy" Combs escaped the top charges in his federal criminal trial, the embattled music producer's lawyers are claiming a victory in a sexual assault case against him. On July 8, New York State Supreme Court Justice Leslie Stroh issued a ruling that narrowed the scope of a civil lawsuit against Combs, who was accused of sexual assault and battery by a woman named April Lampros in May 2024. According to a court document obtained by USA TODAY, Stroh agreed to Combs' request to dismiss claims about any incidents that are found to have occurred before Dec. 19, 2000, when the Gender-Motivated Violence Act went into effect in New York City. Lampros had alleged four unwanted sexual advances from Combs – a rape in 1995, a sexual assault in 1996, a coerced sexual performance and rape in 1998, and a sexual assault in her apartment either at the end of 2000 or early 2001. In an Aug. 19 bid to dismiss Lampros' lawsuit, Combs' lawyers said she "filed this baseless lawsuit more than twenty years after the end of her romantic relationship with Mr. Combs" and added that "each and every one of her false claims is deficient on its face and must be dismissed." Combs has maintained his innocence in response to at least 70 sexual assault lawsuits, which detail alleged incidents dating back to the 1990s. The 55-year-old music producer and businessman, who was convicted of prostitution charges on July 2, has been jailed since September amid his recently wrapped criminal case. He will be sentenced on Oct. 3. Diddy accuser's lawyer says 'it is full steam ahead' In a statement to USA TODAY, Lampros' attorney Tyrone Blackburn confirmed that "the sole claim against Sean Combs is now the (New York City Gender-Motivated Violence Act) claim." Blackburn added that he notified Combs' team of plans to depose the mogul within two months and "will be serving discovery demands" in the case within a day. "It is full steam ahead — playtime is over," he said. In a statement, Combs' team said the ruling shows his motion to dismiss the suit largely "prevails." Combs' team also said he "has not yet had an opportunity to contest those false allegations, and the Court's decision thus does not address their truth." Trial recap: Everything that came to light, from disturbing claims to photos of belongings April Lampros' lawsuit alleged Diddy assaulted her from 1995 to 2001 Lampros, a former New York Fashion Institute of Technology student, alleged Combs raped her on multiple occasions, including one instance in which she claimed he forced her and his then-girlfriend Kim Porter, who died in 2018, to take ecstasy and have sex together before he raped her. Earlier in the year, Lampros withdrew three of the four causes of action in her suit: battery, sexual assault, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She also dismissed the companies she'd named as defendants: Bad Boy Records and Sony Music's Arista Records, where she'd allegedly worked at the time of the assaults. The legal development comes on the heels of Combs' landmark sex-crimes trial in Manhattan court, which concluded on July 2 with a split verdict that found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The Grammy-winning rapper was acquitted on the most serious charge of racketeering and a pair of sex trafficking counts. Despite not being found guilty of the charges that carried the most prison time, Combs was denied bail by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian just hours after the verdict was handed down. The judge cited, in part, Combs' history of domestic violence as he explained the reasoning for his decision. Combs faces up to 20 years in prison for his convicted charges. But prosecutors have said sentencing guidelines could ultimately have him serve only 51 to 63 months in prison. Meanwhile, the defense said guidelines subject him to a maximum of two years. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and at 800-656-4673. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Patrick Ryan, and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge rules Mayor Adams broke law in blocking NYC jails solitary confinement ban
A New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled Mayor Adams broke the law when he refused to implement elements of a city law severely restricting the use of solitary confinement in the jails. Local Law 42 was passed in December 2023, and the City Council overrode the mayor's subsequent veto in January 2024. Since then, Adams has used repeated executive orders to suspend parts of the law, citing public safety. The Council then sued Dec. 9, arguing the mayor could not use emergency powers to override a decision by the city's duly elected legislature. On Monday, Judge Jeffrey Pearlman ruled in the Council's favor. 'When the City Council overturns a mayoral veto, it is not an emergency. It is a democratic process. By declaring a state of emergency and issuing emergency orders, the mayor violated that process,' wrote Pearlman. Pearlman noted the Council passed Local Law 42 after years of hearings and debate including extensive input from the mayor and Department of Correction. That input led to 'material changes' in the law's language. 'While the court respects the immense power that the state gives the executive, that [the Mayor] disagreed with the City Council on the passage of Local Law 42 cannot be considered an emergency of the sort imagined by the state Legislature.' Pearlman wrote that he was referring to state Executive Law 24, which allows mayors to declare emergencies and use broad powers if 'public safety is imperiled.' That law cites 'disaster, rioting, catastrophe, or similar public emergency' as reasons for issuing such an emergency order. Adams first invoked emergency orders to suspend Local Law 42 on July 27, 2024, the date before the law went into effect. Emergency Executive Order 624 stated the law 'severely limits the use of restrictive housing, de-escalation confinement, restraints in movement and emergency lock-ins' and therefore raises 'serious public safety concerns.' Adams also argued the law 'conflicted' with court orders in the Nunez class action lawsuit which alleged the city failed to deal with violence and use of force in the jails. The case led to the creation of the federal monitor to recommend fixes. Mostly recently, the judge in the case ruled a manager will be appointed to take over some functions from city control. The monitor also cited unease with portions of the law. In a Jan. 12 letter to the city, the monitor, Steve Martin, wrote the law 'could inadvertently undermine the overall goals of protecting individuals from harm.' Adams has reissued the order every five days as required by state law. The Council filed its Article 78 lawsuit Dec. 9 with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, alleging Adams' orders amounted to 'an undemocratic abuse of power that no previous New York City Mayor has even attempted.' 'Mayor Adams' decision to exceed his legal authority, simply because he was overruled, undermines the foundation of our democracy, and it must be invalidated,' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said at the time. Reps for Adams did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Ivanka Trump Promotes Book by Author Who Warned About Donald's Presidency
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ivanka Trump shared a photograph on Instagram promoting a book written by a vocal critic of her father, President Donald Trump. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email. The Context Ivanka Trump, who played a key role in the first Trump White House, has taken a step back from politics in recent years. Although she has continued to show support for her father, including attending his inauguration in January, she is not outwardly mixing politics and her personal life. Last year, she attended a Taylor Swift concert in Miami despite the pop star's endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Ivanka Trump leaves the New York State Supreme Court on November 8, 2023. Ivanka Trump leaves the New York State Supreme Court on November 8, 2023. James Devaney/GC Images via Getty Images What to Know Over the weekend, Ivanka shared photos of family and friends on Instagram, as well as one of the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle. The author has previously spoken out against the Trump administration. Untamed is Doyle's memoir, described on Amazon as a story about how she "learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member's ability to bring her full self to the table." In August, Doyle shared a photo on Instagram at the Democratic National Convention voicing support for Harris. "Because in 76 days, when the votes are being counted, we will watch knowing we did everything, everything in our power to keep our children, your children, all children protected from Donald Trump and JD Vance having any power at all over their planet, their families, their bodies, their futures," Doyle wrote. The author wrote in an October post that if "Trump wins, we lose." "There are 19 Days until Election Day: The day that will determine whether we will – or will not – have the right to make decisions about our bodies and our lives. And whether future generations will have fundamental freedoms," she wrote. Ivanka Trump has generally avoided discussing politics after her father left the White House in January 2021. Earlier this year, she stated during an interview on the Skinny Confidential podcast that she does not intend to return to politics for the sake of her children. What People Are Saying Ivanka Trump, on the Skinny Confidential podcast in January: "I love policy and impact. I hate politics. And unfortunately, the two are is a darkness to that world that I don't really want to welcome into mine. To some degree, I'm at the center of the storm because my father is about to be president. It's a very dark negative. And some people love like the gladiator aspect of it, you know, the fight that, that was never me." Ivanka Trump in November 2022: "While I will always love and support my father, going forward, I will do so outside the political arena." Glennon Doyle wrote on Instagram in July 2024: "On Sunday night, 44,000 women gathered with @winwithblackwomen to support Kamala Harris, and raised over $1 million. It's our turn to show up." What Happens Next Ivanka Trump has not signaled that she plans to return to politics anytime soon.
