Latest news with #RulesofEvidence
Epoch Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Trump Grants Full Pardon for Former Virginia Sheriff
President Donald Trump on Monday said he has pardoned Scott Jenkins, the former sheriff of Virginia's Culpeper County, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a federal bribery conviction. Trump made the A federal jury in December 2024 found Jenkins guilty on all 12 counts of conspiracy, fraud, and bribery in connection with his 2023 reelection campaign. Prosecutors said he accepted at least $72,000 in cash bribes in exchange for badges through the county's auxiliary sheriff's deputy program. According to Jenkins maintained his innocence, while his three co-defendants pleaded guilty. His defense argued that the payments were legitimate campaign contributions and that it was within his authority as a sheriff to designate auxiliary deputy sheriffs. In March, Jenkins was Trump came to Jenkins's defense on Monday, accusing the judge who presided over the case of being politically motivated and excluding exculpatory evidence in favor of the sheriff during the trial. The judges allegedly 'allow into evidence what they feel like, not what is mandated under the Constitution and Rules of Evidence,' the president wrote. Related Stories 5/24/2025 5/26/2025 Jenkins led law enforcement in Culpeper County for over a decade before the prosecution that ultimately cost him reelection in 2023. First elected in 2011, he served three terms, twice as an independent and once as a Republican, in the largely rural county of approximately 52,000 residents. Over the years, Jenkins emerged as a consistently conservative local leader when it comes to issues such as Second Amendment rights, immigration enforcement, and public health mandates. His profile grew as political tension escalated between Virginia's conservative rural communities and left-leaning progressive lawmakers in Richmond. In December 2019, Jenkins joined more than 30 other Virginia sheriffs in declaring his county a 'Second Amendment sanctuary' and vowed to deputize residents if the state Legislature passed new gun control laws that he said would infringe on their Second Amendment rights. 'We the sheriffs, especially the sheriffs in rural environments, which is the majority of America, we know what it takes to protect our citizens and how short we are on staffing to do so, and that people need the ability to protect themselves and own the weapons they've had all along,' he said at that time in Months earlier, Jenkins In 2020, Jenkins made headlines again by refusing to enforce COVID-19 lockdown orders issued by then-Gov. Ralph Northam. 'The governor does have the right to enact regulations during a state of emergency and I get that, but the Constitution doesn't go away just because of that,' Jenkins Jenkins had issued a personal plea for clemency last month during a webinar hosted by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, NBC4 Washington Since his return to the White House, Trump has pardoned a range of people whom he said were targeted by a politicized Justice Department during the Biden administration. Jenkins 'is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the radical left,' the president wrote on Monday. 'He will not be going to jail tomorrow, but instead will have a wonderful and productive life.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump pardons former Virginia sheriff convicted of taking $75K in bribes
President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he will pardon a former Virginia sheriff convicted of taking more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, of Culpeper, Virginia, was supposed to report to jail Tuesday but "instead will have a wonderful and productive life." Jenkins, the former sheriff of Culpeper County, was convicted last year of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. He was sentenced in March to 10 years in prison. Jd Vance Spells Out What Trump's Process To 'Rectify' 'Unfair' Jan 6 Prosecutions Could Look Like In his post, Trump said the former sheriff and his wife have been "dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden" Justice Department. "In fact, during his trial, when Sheriff Jenkins tried to offer exculpatory evidence to support himself, the Biden Judge, Robert Ballou, refused to allow it, shut him down, and then went on a tirade," Trump wrote. "As we have seen, in Federal, City, and State Courts, Radical Left or Liberal Judges allow into evidence what they feel like, not what is mandated under the Constitution and Rules of Evidence." Read On The Fox News App "This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail," he added. "He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters,' and 'left for dead.' This is why I, as President of the United States, see fit to end his unfair sentence, and grant Sheriff Jenkins a FULL and Unconditional Pardon." How My Jan. 6 Clients Were Robbed Of Fairness In Dc Bench Trials Federal prosecutors alleged Jenkins accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner and James Metcalf, as well as at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents. In exchange, Jenkins appointed the people paying the bribes as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff's Office badges and credentials, authorities said. None of the payers were trained or vetted and did not render any legitimate services to the sheriff's office, prosecutors said. In April, Jenkins said he hoped that Trump would intervene in his case. "I truly believe if I could get an hour of time with someone in the administration and lay out some facts with my attorney and I really believe if they could hear the other side which I couldn't get in front of the jury — I believe wholeheartedly in the president," he said during a webinar hosted by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. "I believe if he heard the information, I know he would help if he knew my story."Original article source: Trump pardons former Virginia sheriff convicted of taking $75K in bribes
26-05-2025
- Politics
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of federal bribery charges
President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned a Virginia sheriff who had been convicted of federal bribery charges and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Scott Jenkins, who had been the sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, was set to report to jail on Tuesday. "Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia, and their family have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ," Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social. "In fact, during his trial, when Sheriff Jenkins tried to offer exculpatory evidence to support himself, the Biden Judge, Robert Ballou, refused to allow it, shut him down, and then went on a tirade." "As we have seen, in Federal, City, and State Courts, Radical Left or Liberal Judges allow into evidence what they feel like, not what is mandated under the Constitution and Rules of Evidence," he added. "This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail." Jenkins faced a jury trial in late 2024 but wasn't sentenced until March 2025 under the Trump administration. Trump praised Jenkins as "a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters,' and 'left for dead.' This is why I, as President of the United States, see fit to end his unfair sentence, and grant Sheriff Jenkins a FULL and Unconditional Pardon. He will NOT be going to jail tomorrow, but instead will have a wonderful and productive life." Jenkins was convicted by a jury in December 2024 on charges including one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud and seven counts of bribery concerning federally funded programs. The Department of Justice had said in a press release in March that he had received over $75,000 in cash payments for "appointing numerous Northern Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department." "Scott Jenkins violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme," acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee said at the time. "We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable," he added.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's claims of 'diminished' mental capacity take center stage days before sex trafficking trial
Prosecutors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking case are asking for expert testimony regarding the rapper's possible diminished mental capacity to be kept from the jury. "The noticed testimony relates to the defendant's diminished capacity to form the mens rea required to commit the charged offenses – in other words, a 'mental condition bearing on the issue of guilt,'" the government wrote in court documents filed Sunday and obtained by Fox News Digital. The prosecution laid out two main reasons for opposing the expert testimony, days before the trial is set to begin. According to the government, Diddy's legal team did not provide notice of Dr. Elie Aoun's testimony before Feb. 17, 2025, the deadline for pretrial motions. Diddy's legal team had to file notice by the deadline in order to introduce "evidence of the effects of drugs and alcohol on [his] memory or cognitive function," according to prosecutors. Diddy's Plea For Two-month Delay In Sex-trafficking Case Denied By Judge Even if the defense had provided notice in a timely manner, the prosecution claimed Dr. Aoun's testimony was "running afoul of the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1985" and should be deemed "irrelevant, prejudicial, and impermissible under the Rules of Evidence." Read On The Fox News App While specific details of Dr. Aoun's testimony were redacted from the filing, it seems expert opinion was to be given to support whether Diddy had been "lucid" during the alleged sex-trafficking scheme. However, the prosecution claimed Dr. Aoun hadn't examined the music mogul. The government argued the expert would be used as a "substitute to calling witnesses," deeming Dr. Aoun's proposed testimony as "impermissible hearsay." Watch On Fox Nation: What Diddy Do? Judge Arun Subramanian ruled to allow Diddy's legal team to use a "swingers" defense during a hearing Friday. "There's a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common," Marc Agnifilo said at Friday's hearing. "Many people think it's appropriate because it's common." The federal judge noted Combs' team could not name other high-profile individuals who engage in the "lifestyle" as an example. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Authorities alleged Diddy ran a criminal enterprise through his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used "firearms, threats of violence, coercion and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse" to fulfill his sexual desires, according to prosecutors. He was originally charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17. Diddy has maintained his innocence. Prosecutors added two new charges against Diddy in an April 3 superseding indictment after federal prosecutors claimed the rapper engaged in sex trafficking a female victim as recently as 2024. He was accused of transferring the woman, referred to as "Victim 2," along with sex workers across state lines to engage in prostitution between 2021 and 2024. Diddy's trial is set to begin on May article source: Diddy's claims of 'diminished' mental capacity take center stage days before sex trafficking trial
Fox News
28-04-2025
- Fox News
Diddy's claims of 'diminished' mental capacity take center stage days before sex trafficking trial
Prosecutors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking case are asking for expert testimony regarding the rapper's possible diminished mental capacity to be kept from the jury. "The noticed testimony relates to the defendant's diminished capacity to form the mens rea required to commit the charged offenses – in other words, a 'mental condition bearing on the issue of guilt,'" the government wrote in court documents filed Sunday and obtained by Fox News Digital. The prosecution laid out two main reasons for opposing the expert testimony, days before the trial is set to begin. According to the government, Diddy's legal team did not provide notice of Dr. Elie Aoun's testimony before Feb. 17, 2025, the deadline for pretrial motions. Diddy's legal team had to file notice by the deadline in order to introduce "evidence of the effects of drugs and alcohol on [his] memory or cognitive function," according to prosecutors. Even if the defense had provided notice in a timely manner, the prosecution claimed Dr. Aoun's testimony was "running afoul of the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1985" and should be deemed "irrelevant, prejudicial, and impermissible under the Rules of Evidence." While specific details of Dr. Aoun's testimony were redacted from the filing, it seems expert opinion was to be given to support whether Diddy had been "lucid" during the alleged sex-trafficking scheme. However, the prosecution claimed Dr. Aoun hadn't examined the music mogul. The government argued the expert would be used as a "substitute to calling witnesses," deeming Dr. Aoun's proposed testimony as "impermissible hearsay." Judge Arun Subramanian ruled to allow Diddy's legal team to use a "swingers" defense during a hearing Friday. "There's a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common," Marc Agnifilo said at Friday's hearing. "Many people think it's appropriate because it's common." The federal judge noted Combs' team could not name other high-profile individuals who engage in the "lifestyle" as an example. Authorities alleged Diddy ran a criminal enterprise through his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used "firearms, threats of violence, coercion and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse" to fulfill his sexual desires, according to prosecutors. He was originally charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17. Diddy has maintained his innocence. Prosecutors added two new charges against Diddy in an April 3 superseding indictment after federal prosecutors claimed the rapper engaged in sex trafficking a female victim as recently as 2024. He was accused of transferring the woman, referred to as "Victim 2," along with sex workers across state lines to engage in prostitution between 2021 and 2024. Diddy's trial is set to begin on May 5.
