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Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Ridiculous and false': Joe Biden refutes autopen misuse allegations as Trump orders probe into 'conspiracy'
Former US President Joe Biden defended himself on Wednesday amid allegations of autopen misuse, asserting his full control of White House operations during his presidency. The now-president Donald Trump initiated an inquiry into Biden's administration, claiming that senior officials employed autopen signatures to mask the former president's mental deterioration. Refuting the claims, Biden released a statement asserting, "I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false." "This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations," he continued. This comes as Trump, on Wednesday, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate top Biden officials, suggesting they possibly collaborated to mislead the public about his cognitive state and exercised presidential authority via autopen. An autopen functions as a mechanical apparatus that produces genuine-looking signatures through the physical control of writing tools. These devices differ from traditional stamps and digital signature printing methods, as they work with diverse writing implements ranging from ballpoint pens to permanent markers, according to product details of commercially available autopens, as Fox News reported. Notably, The Justice Department has accepted the practice of using autopen for signing both legislation and pardons across various presidential administrations. The presidential pardon power, as explicitly outlined in the Constitution, is absolute, and Trump's assertions regarding Biden's knowledge of specific actions remain unsubstantiated without any supporting evidence. Also read: What is Autopen? Signature device used by Biden to sign pardons; Trump orders inquiry In a Wednesday memo, Trump emphasised that presidential signatures carry substantial authority and responsibility. These signatures transform proposals into laws, enable governmental appointments, establish or remove national policies, and grant prisoner releases. "In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that former President Biden's aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden's cognitive decline and assert Article II authority," Trump wrote. "This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden's signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts," he added. "Given clear indications that President Biden lacked the capacity to exercise his Presidential authority, if his advisors secretly used the mechanical signature pen to conceal this incapacity, while taking radical executive actions all in his name, that would constitute an unconstitutional wielding of the power of the Presidency, a circumstance that would have implications for the legality and validity of numerous executive actions undertaken in Biden's name," Trump further said. House Republicans, under Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer's leadership, commenced an investigation last month to assess whether Biden, experiencing declining health in his presidency's final months, was mentally capable of authorising autopen usage. Comer indicated last week he would consider requiring Biden to appear before the House for questioning if needed. Trump has made similar accusations in the past as well. In March, Trump argued that any preemptive pardons signed by President Biden using an autopen for House select committee members who conducted the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack investigation would be deemed "void" and "vacant."
New York Post
22-05-2025
- New York Post
DC Jewish Museum suspected terrorist Elias Rodriguez fired nearly 2 dozen shots as gunned-down victim tried to crawl away: affidavit, sources
The suspected terrorist who opened fire on two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC, unleashed nearly two dozen rounds at the soon-to-be-engaged couple — with victim Sarah Milgrim attempting to crawl away after collapsing to the ground, according to sources and court documents. Yaron LIschinsky and Sarah Milgrim were gunned-down outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington. Obtained by NYPost. Elias Rodriguez, 31, who allegedly chanted, 'Free, free Palestine' as he was arrested after the hateful slaying, was captured on camera approaching the bullet-riddled couple as he continued to fire off several more rounds outside the Capital Jewish Museum late Wednesday, an arrest affidavit said. Advertisement Follow The Post's coverage on Israeli Embassy staffers killed in DC The Justice Department charged the gunman on Thursday with murder of foreign officials, double first-degree murder, causing death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. View this document on Scribd Advertisement Sources told The Post the Chicago native used an H&K 9mm pistol during the antisemitic attack and fired off at least 21 shots at Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Milgrim, 26, as they left the museum. Terror suspect Elias Rodriguez was charged with multiple counts of murder, among other charges. Katie Kalisher via Storyful It is unclear how many times they were shot. Advertisement This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Google makes first branding change in 10 years with new 'G' icon
Google makes first branding change in 10 years with new 'G' icon Show Caption Hide Caption Justice Department pushes to break up Google's search monopoly The Justice Department has begun a three-week hearing to determine how to address Google's illegal monopoly in internet search, with the government calling for major structural changes. unbranded - Newsworthy Google appears to have begun rolling out its first change to its "G" icon in nearly 10 years on May 12. The icon was changed from having four solid color blocks in the letter to a gradient between the letters. The new icon currently appears on the Google Search app's icon on iOS and came with the 16.18 (beta) update for Android. The new mark has yet to appear in other branding elements for the company as of Monday. It is unclear if other elements of Google's branding will also be updated. USA TODAY did not immediately receive a response when it reached out to the company for comment. The change comes days ahead of the Google I/O 2025 developer conference, set to begin May 20. Evolution of the Google logo The color-block iteration of Google's "G" was unveiled in September of 2015. At the time, the company changed its wordmark to a typeface called Product Sans and the icon from the lowercase white "g" on a blue background to the color-block "G," according to 9to5Google. "As you'll see, we've taken the Google logo and branding, which were originally built for a single desktop browser page, and updated them for a world of seamless computing across an endless number of devices and different kinds of inputs," the company said in a 2015 blog post announcing the change. Earlier versions of the Google logo used a font that "evoked the traditions of the past while also being forward looking," Ruth Kedar, the designer of the original Google logo, said in an interview with the company in 2023.
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Judge Warns Trump's Order May Violate Previous Ruling on Sanctuary Cities
A federal judge has admonished the Trump administration not to use a recent executive order on so-called sanctuary jurisdictions to sidestep a block he already placed on similar orders surrounding those jurisdictions' funding. Sanctuary jurisdictions are municipalities that refuse to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing immigration law. 'Litigation may not proceed with the coercive threat to end all federal funding hanging over the Cities and Counties' heads like the sword of Damocles,' U.S. District Judge William Orrick said in an That was a threat Orrick said the administration made with two executive orders in January and February. After Orrick His order came in response to a request from various cities and counties, which The Justice Department responded by telling Orrick on May 7 that their request sought 'to curb the Executive Branch's deliberative process concerning federal funding decisions and its internal review of state and local governments' compliance with federal law.' The counties and cities, it added, were acting prematurely because Trump's order 'calls for an evaluation process and no funding has been impacted.' Related Stories 5/7/2025 5/3/2025 Orrick said that identifying funds in a targeted way wouldn't violate his April injunction or the Constitution. A more sweeping approach, he said, would. More specifically, he said the government couldn't target certain funds based on the fact that sanctuary jurisdictions received them. Nor could the administration target all federal funds that sanctuary jurisdictions received. His comments came as Trump pursued multiple avenues for bringing both financial and legal consequences to sanctuary jurisdictions. His recent order, which came four days after Orrick's injunction, accused the states of a 'lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law and the Federal Government's obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States.' Trump has also repeatedly denounced the jurisdictions, which he called 'Death Traps' in a TruthSocial post quoted by Orrick. In that post, Trump said he sought to withhold all federal funding. The White House also released a Orrick said these statements didn't 'inspire confidence' that the administration would merely identify funds for termination. 'President Trump's actions, communications, and representations about sanctuary jurisdictions have made it perfectly clear that his ultimate goal is their elimination; directives from executive agencies in his administration have put finer points on his (often informal) expressions,' the California judge said. Under Trump's more recent order, Attorney General Pam Bondi must work with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to publish the list within 30 days and notify the jurisdictions of their defiance of federal immigration law. Other provisions directed the two department heads to take steps in order to stop practices that favored illegal immigrants over Americans, as well as to ensure appropriate eligibility verification is conducted for individuals receiving federal public benefits.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mass deportations coming? 350,000 Venezuelans at risk as Trump pushes Supreme Court for legal status cut
The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to strip temporary legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially exposing them to being deported. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India's Rafale-M deal may turn up the heat on Pakistan China's support for Pakistan may be all talk, no action India brings grounded choppers back in action amid LoC tensions The Justice Department asked the high court to put on hold a ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that kept in place Temporary Protected Status for the Venezuelans that would have otherwise expired last month. The status allows people already in the United States to live and work legally because their native countries are deemed unsafe for return due to natural disaster or civil strife. GIF89a����!�,D; 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo A federal appeals court had earlier rejected the administration's request. President Donald Trump 's administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including ending TPS for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians. TPS is granted in 18-month increments. Live Events The emergency appeal to the high court came the same day a federal judge in Texas ruled illegal the administration's efforts to deport Venezuelans under an 18th-century wartime law. The cases are not related. The protections had been set to expire April 7, but U.S. District Judge Edward Chen ordered a pause on those plans. He found that the expiration threatened to severely disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and could cost billions in lost economic activity. Chen, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, found the government hadn't shown any harm caused by keeping the program alive. But Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote on behalf of the administration that Chen's order impermissibly interferes with the administration's power over immigration and foreign affairs. In addition, Sauer told the justices, people affected by ending the protected status might have other legal options to try to remain in the country because the "decision to terminate TPS is not equivalent to a final removal order." Congress created TPS in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife.
