Latest news with #retribution
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michael Cohen Warns Musk: Trump ‘Hammer' Is Going to ‘Drop'
President Donald Trump's former 'fixer' put Elon Musk on alert about incoming retribution from the president after their bitter break-up. 'They are going to drop the hammer on him out of nowhere, when he least expects it,' lawyer Michael Cohen told MSNBC. 'That's the playbook. And, again, this is political guerilla warfare at the highest level.' Cohen, who experienced his own fall from Trump's good graces, predicted that the retaliation would take the form of personal smears, the 'weaponization' of the Justice Department, and targeting of Musk's companies. Trump has yet to launch a full-faced war on Musk, his former bankroller and adviser, who on Thursday went nuclear on the president. Musk, infuriated by Trump's 'big, beautiful bill', alleged that he was in 'the Epstein files' and called for his impeachment. However, Cohen said that because of the size of the two men's egos, a dramatic escalation of the clash was inevitable. 'Elon Musk has massive power, and here's the problem with that,' he said. 'Trump craves relevance, Elon Musk craves dominance. Very big difference. You're talking about an immovable force trying to smash into something that's indestructible. this is going to be a war like nobody has seen maybe in all of history.' Cohen suggested that Musk was the latest in a long list of men who wanted to influence Trump by 'whispering in the ear,' pointing to former advisers Rudy Giuliani and Jared Kushner. 'It doesn't end well for anybody,' he said. 'And it's not going to end well for Elon Musk.' Cohen directed a message to Musk directly: 'You're never— Elon, you're never more powerful than the president of the Unites States. And you're never richer than the country.' So far, Trump has limited himself to insinuating that Musk's drug use could be responsible for the blow-up. 'I'm not even thinking about Elon. He's got a problem. The poor guy's got a problem,' Trump said Friday. Musk, meanwhile, has quieted down—and deleted several of his most inflammatory posts, such as the bombshell allegation that Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein are the reason files on the sex offender haven't been released. Cohen was an attorney for Trump from 2006 to 2018. He eventually turned on Trump after he became caught up in an FBI investigation into the 2016 campaign's links to Russia. Cohen wound up serving three years in prison for campaign finance infractions, tax fraud, and bank fraud.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Administration Live Updates: U.S. Suspends Visa Interviews for Foreign Students
President Trump's order targeting the law firm WilmerHale was pointed, given the firm's longtime association with Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the first Trump administration. President Trump's campaign of retribution against elite law firms that have resisted his efforts to subjugate them is, so far, not going well. On Tuesday, a judge struck down his executive order seeking to crush WilmerHale, one of several firms the president says have wronged him or have done work for his political opponents. The decision was the latest in an unbroken string of victories for the handful of firms that have sued to stop him. Judge Richard J. Leon of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the order was unconstitutional and 'must be struck down in its entirety,' adding that Mr. Trump appeared intent on driving the firm to the bargaining table by imposing 'a kitchen sink of severe sanctions.' The ruling seemed to validate the strategy, embraced by a minority of firms, of fighting the administration instead of caving to a pressure campaign and making deals with Mr. Trump to avoid persecution. Judges have already rejected similarly punitive executive orders aimed at the firms Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block, and lawyers representing Susman Godfrey asked a fourth judge earlier this month to issue a final decision in their case. Judge Leon said that despite his decisive ruling, the firm had already suffered because of Mr. Trump's actions. Even though he had temporarily blocked the order one day after the president signed it, he noted that existing clients had already started 'curtailing their relationships with WilmerHale, and new clients are taking their business elsewhere.' 'The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting. The founding fathers knew this!' Judge Leon wrote in a 73-page opinion laced with more than two dozen exclamation points. 'Accordingly, they took pains to enshrine in the Constitution certain rights that would serve as the foundation for that independence,' he wrote. 'Little wonder that in the nearly 250 years since the Constitution was adopted no executive order has been issued challenging these fundamental rights.' So far, federal judges have steadfastly rejected what they have described as an effort by the White House to subjugate the nation's top law firms. All through March, Mr. Trump issued half a dozen orders individually demonizing firms that had worked for prominent Democrats or aided in efforts to investigate his ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign. In each case, the orders leveraged the force of the federal government to give the threats teeth, including by having those firms' lawyers barred from federal buildings and stripped of their security clearances. The order targeting WilmerHale was especially pointed, given the firm's longtime association with Robert S. Mueller III. He returned there upon retiring from his role as the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Moscow's election interference that boosted Mr. Trump against his rival in the 2016 race, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mr. Mueller left the firm in 2021. Along with other firms such as Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey, WilmerHale sued to stop the executive orders from taking effect, asking Judge Leon to proceed directly to a decision with no trial, as the only question at issue was whether or not a president could take such an extraordinary action. At the same time, other white shoe firms such as Paul Weiss, Skadden and Latham & Watkins agreed to take on hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of pro bono legal work on behalf of causes Mr. Trump favors, avoiding similarly calibrated executive orders. In his opinion, Judge Leon colorfully dismissed assertions by the government that its targeting of WilmerHale was something routine and apolitical, brushing off the notion with a brusque 'please — that dog won't hunt!' 'Taken together, the provisions constitute a staggering punishment for the firm's protected speech,' he wrote. 'The order is intended to, and does in fact, impede the firm's ability to effectively represent its clients!' Earlier this month, while Judge Leon was deliberating on his decision, the firm wrote to inform the court that the government had proceeded to suspend two of its attorneys' security clearances. During a hearing in April, Richard Lawson, a lawyer for the government, told Judge Leon that the lawsuit was an effort to improperly constrain Mr. Trump's ability to 'investigate an area of concern,' despite the appearance that it infringed on the law firm's freedom of speech. Mr. Lawson had argued in several cases related to law firms that the president enjoys considerable authority to control how the government contracts with and affords access to private companies. Representing WilmerHale, Paul Clement, the U.S. solicitor general under former President George W. Bush, said the case boiled down to resentment and retaliation by Mr. Trump, who he said had blatantly singled the firm out over its client list and staff. Mr. Clement said the White House had flexed its power to hurt the firm in ways that were already jeopardizing its business, even just by raising doubt among prospective clients that the firm's lawyers would have the proper clearances and access to take on basic legal work. 'With all respect, there are some subjects where the executive's hands should be tied,' Mr. Clement said. 'If the executive is inclined to interfere with the traditions that are essentially necessary to have the rule of law in the adversarial system of justice, the president's hands should be tied,' he added. While the firms that rejected a deal and fought back have now notched a string of decisive wins in court, others that sought to appease Mr. Trump have seen high-profile resignations and internal discord. Last week, four of Paul Weiss's best-known partners resigned to start their own venture, after others, including the firm's top pro bono leader, left shortly after the order. In the meantime, Mr. Trump has recently mused about stretching the limits of the pro bono agreements he reached with other firms and weighed demanding that they do personal or political work. Finding that the order was essentially designed to harm WilmerHale's business, Judge Leon joined several of his colleagues in concluding that its larger intent was to intimidate other firms in a way that could damage the legal profession as a whole. 'The order shouts through a bullhorn: If you take on causes disfavored by President Trump, you will be punished!'
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
New York Attorney General Letitia James calls mortgage fraud probe of her "retribution," touts lawsuits against Trump
New York Attorney General Letitia James came out with guns blazing against the Trump administration on Tuesday, even as she forcefully defended herself over a mortgage fraud investigation launched by the Department of Justice. The probe has now been confirmed by the head of the FBI, who calls it "a case of great public importance." The investigation "is nothing more than retribution" Tuesday marked the first time James spoke before the Association For a Better New York in four years, and she had a terse message for the city's movers and shakers about the probe the feds have launched against her. "This investigation into me is nothing more than retribution. It's baseless," James said. The probe centers on charges she falsified records related to her home in Brooklyn and loan document for a Virginia property she was co-signing for a niece. "It has to do with with the fact that on a power of attorney I mistakenly indicated that I was a Virginia resident, but prior to that I indicated to the mortgage broker that, in fact, in bold capital letters, that I am not a Virginia resident and never will be," James said. Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that his agents are actively investigating the case and reporting directing to him and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. "This case, I can tell you, is being handled by professional pros, who are subject matter experts, reporting directly to headquarters," Patel said, "because it is a case of great public importance." James said it's retribution for the $455 million judgment her office won against President Trump and the Trump Organization for inflating property values to get more favorable loan and insurance terms. James expands on lawsuits filed against President Trump During her speech Tuesday, James bragged about filling 23 suits challenging the legality of the executive orders signed by the president that, she said, do harm to New Yorkers. "My message is clear: don't harm my city, don't harm my state. Otherwise, you've got to go through me, and you can attack me all you want. I take the attacks and just wake up the next day, say a prayer, and go to work," James said. James was especially intent on striking down the executive order about deporting migrants. She called it a "blemish on the moral fiber of our nation." James later told CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer she is willing to work with the president on issues New Yorkers care about, like Penn Station, affordable housing, and other major capital projects But there is still the matter of the $455 million judgment against the Trumps. It's on appeal and she's anxious to collect.
Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
James Comey on Trump: ‘He's the monster in a horror sequel'
When I speak to James Comey about his past battles with Donald Trump, the state of America and his new novel about free speech and its consequences, the former director of the FBI is on holiday at the beach. He is in a relaxed mood, with no reason to suspect that within hours he will be engulfed in a fresh storm. Comey, who was sacked by Trump in his first term in dramatic circumstances, had warned before the election that the idea of Donald back in the White House 'bent on retribution and destroying the system is chilling'. So I ask if he had experienced any of that retribution. 'Well, not in Trump 2.0. But with the interviews I'm doing around the launch of
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Radtke Vows Revenge Against Mike Malott After Anthem Controversy at UFC 315
Fight week buzz is heating up ahead of UFC 315, and while the main card is packed with competitive matchups, it's the undercard that just took a dramatic turn. With tensions already high, one rising welterweight is heading into his bout with more than just a win on the line—he's looking for retribution. What was once just another preliminary scrap is now charged with emotion and controversy, setting the stage for a heated showdown this weekend. Charles Radtke recently made waves with a string of comments that struck a nerve with fans north of the border. The interview, which was shared by MMAFightingOnSBN, featured Radtke being asked directly how he felt about the 20,000 Canadian fans who are expected to boo him at UFC 315. The reporter referenced an earlier hockey game this year in which Canada defeated the United States, further highlighting the brewing national tension. Radtke fired off a passionate response: 'So, I don't give a f*** about hockey, right? That's not my gig. But what I do hold dear is—I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather who's a sergeant major in the Marine Corps.' He continued, 'And when y'all boo the national anthem, somebody's going to have to pay for that.' So inevitably, I take that to heart because every year I would change 50 flags going up our driveway. So yeah, you're going to see the results of it.' This stems from an incident in February 2025, when the U.S. national anthem was booed by Canadian fans during the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal. That reaction clearly left a mark on Radtke, who now sees Saturday's fight as an opportunity for symbolic payback. UFC Middleweight Champion Chris WeidmanGetty Images Radtke will face Canadian Mike Malott in what promises to be a charged welterweight bout. Radtke enters the cage with just one loss in the UFC—a defeat to Carlos Prates—but rebounded impressively with a first-round knockout against Matthew Semelsberger. Malott finds himself in a similar position. After suffering a loss to veteran Neil Magny, he responded with a dominant unanimous decision win over Trevin Giles. Advertisement Now, with national pride in the air and emotions running high, this UFC 315 undercard battle carries more than just rankings—it carries a message. Related: Ian Machado Garry Sends Strong Message to the UFC: 'I Won't Accept' Related: UFC Cuts Once Promising Heavyweight KO Artist Following Five-Year Rollercoaster Run
