At least 100,000 corpses believed to be killed under Assad regime found in Syria
The Syrian Emergency Task Force, a U.S.-based anti-Assad advocacy group announced on Monday, Dec. 16, the discovery of a mass grave just north of Damascus filled with at least 100,000 corpses killed by former Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s government. Mouaz Moustafa, the head of the advocacy group, said it’s just one of five mass graves he’s found over the years.
Moustafa said he believes 100,000 corpses is “the most conservative estimate,” alleging that there are likely more mass graves than the five sites. He also said these include the remains of U.S., British and other foreign citizens.
Moustafa told Reuters the evidence is based on the testimonies of workers who escaped Syria, accusing the intelligence branch of the Syrian air force of being in charge of transporting the bodies to mass graves after the victims died from torture.
The advocacy group also said the grave sites are unsecured and need to be preserved for evidence in future investigations.
Assad is reportedly estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians since 2011. The regime launched a crackdown on protests against his rule, which eventually grew into a civil war.
Assad, who escaped to Moscow, denied any allegations of human rights violations. The Assad family ruled Syria for nearly 60 years and is accused of torture and mass executions of prisoners.
American couple gunned down in Mexico while on vacation amid wave of violence
Authorities say gunmen in western Mexico shot and killed an American couple on Wednesday, Dec. 11, in their car as they were visiting family for a holiday vacation. The murders are another setback for President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ongoing efforts to curb violence across the country.
It’s unclear why the married couple was targeted but The New York Times reported the pair were the brother and sister-in-law of the local mayor. Both were from California.
The U.S. government said on Thursday, Dec. 12, it is “aware of the situation” and tracking it closely. The attack unfolded in one of the most violent regions of Mexico, the Michoacan State, which has been plagued by murders, abductions and drug trafficking.
Earlier this year, gunmen reportedly assassinated a police chief, and a former mayor was kidnapped. Police said she remains missing.
Sheinbaum’s first few months in office have been marred by cartel violence, including the beheading of a mayor in northern Mexico in October 2024, and the deadly shooting of migrants by Mexican soldiers.
Sheinbaum met with security officials on Tuesday, Dec. 10, in Acapulco to discuss ways to combat a wave of violent crime. The next day, a high-ranking judge was gunned down in his car in the city. Police are still investigating the assassination.
Mangione supporters raise tens of thousands of dollars for legal defense
Supporters of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are raising tens of thousands of dollars to fund his legal defense. The development is adding to fears among law enforcement that Mangione is being turned into a “martyr” amid rising threats against other CEOs in the wake of Thompson’s murder.
Several online defense funds from anonymous users have popped up for Mangione. That includes one on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo, which raised over $50,000 from nearly 1,500 donors as of Thursday, Dec. 12.
The defense fund has dubbed itself “The December 4th Legal Committee.” It’s an apparent reference to the day investigators say Mangione gunned down Thompson on the streets of Manhattan.
The fund’s organizer says they do not support violence but believes “in the constitutional right to fair legal representation.”
GiveSendGo told ABC News that it takes concerns about the fundraising campaign seriously but noted that it allows legal defense funds as it believes in “due process.”
Other crowdfunding websites, like GoFundMe, have taken down Mangione’s legal defense funding efforts. The company states that it bars “fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes.”
Mangione’s attorney reportedly said that while his client should be presumed innocent, he doesn’t feel comfortable accepting money from supporters.
Reddit is also taking action against users posting what investigators say is Mangione’s manifesto by removing or restricting links to the document.
While some users accused the platform of censorship, the company said it violates their violent content policy.
Although many praise Mangione’s alleged actions, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the support “deeply disturbing.”
Prosecutors in New York City are working to secure an indictment against Mangione, who is still in custody in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona on Monday, Dec. 9.
Duke lacrosse accuser now admits she lied about rape claim
Nearly 20 years after she accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape in a case that garnered national attention, the accuser has now changed her story. She now admits she lied.
Crystal Mangum, who is currently serving prison time for murder, confessed to making up the rape claim this week in an interview at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. Until now, she had never publicly stated that it was untrue.
Back in March 2006, Mangum claimed the lacrosse players raped her at a house party in Durham, North Carolina. The players had paid strippers, including Mangum, to attend the party.
The Durham County district attorney initially charged the three players with sexual assault and kidnapping. The case became a national spectacle with racial overtones. The suspects all being from a white, affluent school, and the accuser, an African American woman.
The DA later recused himself. The North Carolina attorney general took over the case’s prosecution and determined that unreliable witnesses, a lack of DNA and contradictions in witness statements amounted to a “rush to accuse,” and the lacrosse players were innocent. The case was dismissed in 2007.
However, the Duke lacrosse program was scarred. Two of the exonerated players ended up transferring to other universities.
In October 2008, Mangum spoke publicly and refused to admit that she made up the story. She said she intended to get justice for herself.
But, this week, in an interview with the online show called Let’s Talk with Kat, Mangum said, “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of people who believed in me. I made up the story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God and that was wrong.”
Mangum hopes the men will forgive her. She won’t face perjury charges due to the statute of limitations expiring in North Carolina.
Site of 1978 Jonestown massacre in Guyana to become tourist attraction
The scene of the largest mass murder-suicide in recent world history is becoming a tourist attraction, according to a report from NBC News on Thursday, Dec. 12. A South African tour group is turning the site of Jonestown in Guyana, where more than 900 adults and children died in 1978, into a travel destination.
The first tour group is reportedly ready to visit the site in January. The experience costs $650 and meant for small groups. Visitors will get an overnight experience to educate them on the lessons of the tragedy. The tour company’s owner says while tragic, Jonestown is an important part of the country’s history and has “global significance.”
With the help of the Guyanese government, Wanderlust Adventures will teach about “cult psychology, manipulation and abuse of power.” All while taking people to notable spots where the massacre unfolded.
Once a commune founded by American Rev. Jim Jones and hundreds of his followers, the living compound would later become home to the Jonestown Massacre. Jones ordered his followers to drink cyanide mixed with a flavored beverage.
A U.S. representative and two NBC News crew members died, while a congressional staffer sustained injuries that day. They were shot while attempting to board a plane after visiting the commune.
Despite the history, some in Guyana are reportedly uneasy about tourists visiting a site with such a dark past.
However, Wanderlust Adventures disagrees, noting that tourists from all over the world pay to see places like Chernobyl in Ukraine and Nazi concentration camps in Poland. The owner of the company adds, “it’s not to dwell on the tragedy” but rather to “understand the events” and make sure “histories are neither repeated nor forgotten.”
Judge gunned down in Acapulco a day after Mexican president visits
An investigation into the assassination of a high-ranking judge in Mexico’s Guerrero state is underway in Acapulco. The shooting happened just one day after President Claudia Sheinbaum met with security officials to address a rise in violent crimes.
Mexican police said the judge was gunned down on Wednesday, Dec. 11, while in his car. Authorities said they’re still investigating the murder.
Cartel violence has gripped the Guerrero State over recent years. The violence includes the beheading of the mayor in the state capital just days after he took office in October.
Sheinbaum’s first few months in office have been plagued by gun violence despite her deployment of the Mexican military to areas with high murder rates. Her policies signaled a shift from her predecessor’s “Hugs, Not Bullets” strategy with cartels, which focused more on prevention efforts.
However, using the Mexican military has also come with criticism. A rash of shootings between Mexican soldiers and drug cartels in November reportedly killed suspected cartel members but also bystanders caught in the crossfire.
The incident led to questions over the use of Mexican forces, who are reportedly shooting first and asking questions later.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect fights extradition to NY, denied bail in PA
New details continue to emerge about the man charged with murder in the killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO. And wildfires burn out of control in southern California as strong winds are forecast to make matters worse. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect fights extradition to NY, denied bail in PA
Luigi Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania as he fights extradition to New York one week after authorities say he shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel.
The murder suspect did not waive his extradition to New York. That means Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania as he has 14 days to challenge the detention.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it will seek a governor’s warrant to force extradition to New York where Mangione faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she will sign a warrant for his extradition to ensure he is “tried and held accountable.”
Watch the @ABC7NY interview where Deputy Commissioner of @NYPDCT Rebecca Weiner and Chief of @NYPDDetectives Joseph Kenny discuss the ongoing investigation regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3WH9Y0JkMJ
In court Tuesday, Mangione was denied bail on the felony charges of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license in Pennsylvania.
“He has indicated a plea of not guilty. The only charges that we’ve seen thus far, have been the ones here in Pennsylvania. And we have pled not guilty to those charges,” his attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters.
As the investigation in New York murder continues, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told Fox News they are looking into whether the suspect suffered a back injury and filed any claims with the insurance industry prior to the shooting. Mangione’s roommate in Hawaii told various broadcasts Mangione’s back surgery caused him great pain and he was extremely angry about it.
Mangione had three pages of writing on him when he was arrested inside a Pennsylvania McDonald’s Monday morning, Dec. 9. The NYPD said the notes were addressed to “the feds” and told authorities he acted alone.
Investigators said Mangione may have been inspired by the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and they’re working to determine whether Thompson was the target of “a symbolic takedown” against corporate corruption.
In November, Mangione’s mother had filed a missing persons report for him in San Francisco. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, that came after no one had heard from Mangione since July.
In a statement, Mangione’s family said, “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
Fallout from South Korea’s short-lived martial law period
The fallout from South Korea’s martial law declaration widens as the imprisoned former defense minister attempted to take his own life.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is currently being detained at a facility in Seoul on alleged collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol in imposing martial law last week, attempted to take his own life late Tuesday night.https://t.co/aHM6HP5TUS
Authorities said former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun has been moved to an isolation room after an attempt on his own life before his formal arrest warrant was issued Tuesday night. Kim was the first public figure to be detained over the martial law declaration on Dec. 3 and is accused of being the one to recommend the move.
Separately Tuesday, South Korean police said they sent officers to search President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of the investigation into the declaration.
Yoon is now banned from leaving the country as police and prosecutors investigate whether he and his supporters in the government as well as the military committed an insurrection when they sent armed troops into the National Assembly last week to try to prevent lawmakers from gathering to cancel the martial law decree. They were ultimately unsuccessful; lawmakers voted unanimously to end martial law just six hours after it was put in place.
Investigators have vowed to arrest, or at least detain, Yoon, who is still the country’s president. He refused to resign after an impeachment attempt on Saturday, Dec. 8, failed when members of his party left parliament and boycotted the vote.
The country’s main opposition party says it’s preparing a new impeachment motion and a vote on that is expected as early as this Saturday, Dec. 14.
Malibu wildfire reaches more than 3,000 acres, 0% contained
Firefighters in Southern California are battling a raging wildfire that has prompted evacuations and damaged homes in the affluent beach community of Malibu, northwest of Los Angeles. The Franklin Fire has spread to more than 3,000 acres and was 0% contained as of CalFire’s update at 9:47 p.m. PT Tuesday.
The fast-moving inferno broke out late Monday night and quickly grew, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds. Some gusts were reported as strong as 90 miles per hour.
Widespread Red Flag conditions across much of Southern California due to Santa Ana Winds will continue to be a threat to residents and property throughout the week.
The Franklin Fire in L.A. County has already consumed over 2200 acres this morning, forcing many evacuations. For… pic.twitter.com/7diQcNdi6B
More than 1,500 firefighters had been assigned to battle the flames and smoke.
Students, teachers and administrators at Pepperdine University were told to shelter in place as the fire kept getting closer and closer. Final exams were canceled.
There have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries, but officials said the fire has destroyed at least seven homes so far. The National Weather Service forecast days of extreme dry windy weather ahead.
Federal judge blocks sale of Infowars to The Onion
Jones was forced to put the platform up for sale to help pay $1.5 billion in damages that he owes to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims for falsely claiming the massacre in Connecticut was a hoax.
Tuesday night, a federal bankruptcy judge said there was a lack of transparency in the auction process, and it failed to maximize value for the victims’ families, even though they had given their approval for Infowars to be sold to The Onion for an undisclosed amount of money.
NJ lawmaker calls for ‘limited state of emergency’ over drones
Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick said mysterious drones seen flying over New Jersey in recent weeks should prompt a “limited state of emergency.” Bramnick said in a statement New Jersey should ban all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings.
His statement came after the mayors of 21 New Jersey towns wrote a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy demanding action.
The FBI so far has only said it is doing all it can to figure out what is going on and the public can continue to call in tips.
This comes a year after GM grounded its fleet of driverless vehicles after an accident in California that led to Cruise being fined $1.5 million.
GM, which owns about 90% of Cruise, said it intends to buy the remainder of the company and will combine GM and Cruise technical teams. GM cited an “increasingly competitive robotaxi market” as one reason it will no longer fund the business.
Cruise founder Kyle Vogt, who left the company in 2023, reacted to the news on X saying, “In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies.”
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
The man accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a New York City sidewalk is charged with murder. And the Biden administration levels allegations of war crimes against two Syrians who were high-raking members of the now ousted regime. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
After nearly a week of searching, the manhunt for the suspected gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel last week is over. Police said they located the 26-year-old suspect inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 300 miles from New York on Monday, Dec. 9.
The New York City Police Department filed first-degree murder charges against Luigi Mangione, according to court documents released Monday night. Mangione also faces charges of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged driver’s license, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Mangione is described as a former high school valedictorian and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who grew up in Maryland but has also had past addresses in California and Hawaii.
Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona after authorities said a McDonald’s employee recognized him as the person of interest seen in images related to Thompson’s shooting death.
When police arrived on the scene, they questioned Mangione. According to court documents, Mangione “started to shake” when asked if he’d recently been in New York City. Authorities said at first, he lied about his identity.
So proud of @NYPDMTN Detectives, and our Major Case and Homicide Squads, who worked around-the-clock on the homicide investigation in Midtown. I joined them last night to thank them for their dedication. No doubt, their work was instrumental to identifying the person of interest… pic.twitter.com/jAFA7JDcHd
Court documents show he was carrying a black 3-D printed pistol with a silencer. The NYPD said the “ghost gun” found on him was consistent with the one used in the murder. Ghost guns do not have serial numbers.
Police said Mangione also had on him a fake ID, matching the one used by the suspect at a New York City hostel before the shooting, and a three-page written note.
“That document is currently in the possession of the Altoona Police Department as part of their investigation but just from briefly speaking with them, we don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document, but it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said.
Multiple reports Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, claimed those writings included the phrases “these parasites had it coming” and it “had to be done.”
During a press conference Monday evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) spoke of how the killing has led to some people online sharing their frustrations and anger over the healthcare system but emphasized that Mangione is not a martyr.
“In some dark corners, this killer’s being hailed as a hero,” Shapiro said. “Hear me on this: he is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this [Monday] morning. The real heroes every day in our society are the women and men who put on uniforms like these and go out in our communities to keep us safe. This killer is not a hero. He should not be hailed.”
Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania pending his extradition to New York, which is expected to take place later this week.
Jury finds former US Marine not guilty in NYC chokehold death trial
Tensions remain high in New York after a jury acquitted U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny of all charges on Monday, including criminally negligent homicide, in the chokehold death of a schizophrenic man, whose behavior had some people on the New York subway testifying they feared for their lives.
The caught-on-camera deadly incident from May 2023 saw Penny put Jordan Neely in a chokehold from behind after Neely walked up and down the F train saying “somebody is going to die today”.
Prosecutors said the chokehold lasted too long, was reckless, and resulted in the 30-year-old homeless man’s death. The defense brought an expert in to show Neely was under the influence of the synthetic marijuana drug K2, arguing he died from drug use and a previous medical condition.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, fights broke out as protesters and counter-protesters clashed. After the verdict Neely’s father stated, “There is no justice.”
US charges 2 former Syrian officials with war crimes
The United States has charged two former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officials with war crimes. The DOJ said during Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud oversaw operations of a detention facility where Americans and civilians who had been deemed enemies of the state were tortured.
In other developments in the Middle East, the U.S. has also sent a special envoy to Beirut, Lebanon to find out what happened to Austin Tice. Tice is an American journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago.
"We have heard from sources that have been vetted by the U.S. government that Austin is alive." Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for 12 years. Today his brother & sister tell me "every day is a day that Austin should be released and a day that Austin could be released." pic.twitter.com/o08OgOFKEm
On Sunday, Dec. 8, President Joe Biden said he believes Tice is still alive and his administration is committed to bringing him home. Syria has publicly denied holding Tice.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a large-scale attack on Syria, striking what it called strategic military sites after the fall of the al-Assad government. It also expanded its presence into the Golan Heights, a buffer zone along the country’s border with Syria.
Israel claimed the move is temporary and aimed at ensuring nearby areas are not exposed to any potential security threats, but Iran has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, saying the expansion is a “flagrant violation” of U.N. charter, breaking a 50-year cease-fire agreement.
Hegseth looks to shore up Senate support on Capitol Hill
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary is back on Capitol Hill this week. He’s looking to shore up support from Senate Republicans.
Pete Hegseth met with Senators Joni Ernst and Lindsey Graham on Monday. Both had expressed concerns over allegations against Hegseth of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities and excessive drinking.
Hegseth denies a lot of it and says he is changed man. He served in the Army in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lord & Taylor to relaunch as online discount luxury retailer
Another department store chain is set to make an internet comeback. Lord & Taylor is set to relaunch in 2025 as a discount luxury e-commerce platform offering designer goods and Lord & Taylor-branded products, according to its new owner.
Regal Brands Global acquired the Lord & Taylor intellectual property in September after its previous owner, Saadia Group — which had re-launched the chain as an e-commerce website in 2021 — ceased operations.
Regal Brands reportedly aims to position Lord & Taylor products to compete with other high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
‘Emilia Perez’ receives most Golden Globe nominations
Gang leader in Haiti orders killings of at least 110 over alleged witchcraft
Gang violence wracked Haiti over the weekend, leading to the deaths of reportedly nearly 200, including more than 100 elderly people, after a gang leader accused them of causing his child’s sickness through witchcraft. According to the National Human Rights Defense Network, gang members rounded people up who they suspected of practicing voodoo and executed them with machetes and knives in an impoverished western area of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.
The killings took place on Friday, Dec. 6, and continued on Saturday, Dec. 7, after the gang leader’s son reportedly died from his illness.
The United Nations says in total at least 184 people died in gang-related violence in Port-au-Prince over the weekend and the latest numbers bring the death toll to 5,000 people this year.
This is the largest mass killing in the country since October, when at least 115 people were reportedly murdered in a farming community by gang members. Authorities say the victims were targeted for forming a vigilante group to fight off gangs in the region.
Officials estimate gangs now control 85% of the Haitian capital. A U.N.-backed security force has been working to quell gang violence since 2022 but is vastly undermanned and underfunded.
The U.N. is attempting to turn the mission into a peacekeeping effort. However, its efforts reportedly face opposition from China and Russia.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
Syrian rebels oust dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country after nearly 25 years in power. And the suspected killer of a health care CEO in New York City is still at-large after eluding a massive manhunt for almost a week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
It’s the dawn of a new era in Syria. After more than a decade of civil war in the country, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after rebel groups overtook the capital in a coup on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Now Syria and its people are left with the question of what comes next as countries around the world, including the United States, react to the changing landscape.
Syrians could be seen celebrating in the streets as word spread that Assad had fled the country. State media reported the president and his family landed in Russia Sunday evening and Assad has been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The toppled leader, who had been in power since 2000 and whose family had ruled for five decades, was forced to vacate after rebel forces quickly captured city after city leading to them taking control of Damascus.
Since the civil war broke out in the wake of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, Assad’s forces have been accused of brutal severe human rights violations, including using chemical weapons against their people. They’ve been held responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and the displacement of millions of others.
The rebels who led to Assad’s ouster were headed by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jolani called the coup “a victory for the whole Islamic nation.”
Jolani’s group used to be linked to Al Qaeda. Though it has cut those ties, the U.S. still designates it a terrorist group.
President Joe Biden spoke from the White House Sunday, calling the end of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice.” Biden added the U.S. will support Syria’s neighbors Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq should any threat arise from this period of transition.
Biden referred to this as a time of “risk and uncertainty.”
“We will remain vigilante. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions.”
Biden said Assad’s downfall came in part due to allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah being weaker today than when Biden began his term.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday, saying Iran and Russia are in weakened states right now and calling for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, in a post on Saturday, Dec. 7, Trump said the U.S. should not get involved with Syria, saying, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”
Iran’s president said it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.
Amid the time of transition in Syria, the U.S. showed it will continue its efforts against ISIS in the region. U.S. Central Command said it launched a series of airstrikes Sunday targeting ISIS camps and leaders in central Syria, confirming 75 “targets” had been hit. U.S. officials said it will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria.
Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on first day in office
In his first network TV interview since winning the election, President-elect Trump touched on some of his biggest campaign promises and his plans to start following through with them immediately when he takes office in January.
In an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “A lot of it will have to do with economics. A lot’s gonna do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border. We’re gonna immediately strengthen up the border and do a real job.”
Trump also doubled down on his promise to pardon Americans jailed for their role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they had no other choice than to plead guilty. Department of Justice records show more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with that attack and nearly 900 have pleaded guilty.
While Trump said he will not tell his nominees for FBI director and attorney general to go after his political rivals, he did share his opinion on what should happen to lawmakers who were on the House’s select committee to investigate January 6.
“Everybody on that committee, for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
After that interview, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was on the committee, issued a statement saying, “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Trump did reiterate multiple times during Sunday’s interview he has no plans to go after political rivals, but as we’ve reported here at Straight Arrow News, President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Cheney and others who were part of the House Jan. 6 investigation, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Police release new images of suspect in NYC deadly shooting
The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson enters a new week.
Over the weekend, the NYPD released new images of the apparent suspect. Police identify the man in the pictures as “a person of interest” wanted for questioning for the fatal shooting outside a Hilton hotel Wednesday, Dec. 4.
One image shows the masked man in the back of a taxi. Another shows him walking on the sidewalk outside a vehicle. Police are hoping these images, along with others released last week, will help lead to the gunman.
Authorities reportedly traveled to Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 7, and have been searching a lake near Central Park. On Friday night, Dec. 6, reports said investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the shooter. Inside they found two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.
Jay-Z accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce, denied the accusation and said in a statement directed at the attorney who filed the suit, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, The Apollo
President Biden was among those in attendance — a tradition President Trump did not continue during his first term in office, saying he did not want to be a political distraction as some attendees had threatened to boycott his appearance. As Trump gets ready to start his second term in office, there are questions about whether federal funding for the arts might be on the chopping block.
Reports: Juan Soto, Mets agree on largest contract in pro sports history
Former New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is staying in the Big Apple, but moving leagues in reportedly the largest deal in professional sports history.
But should Soto decide not to opt out, his pay will reportedly go up an extra $4 million a year for the remainder of the deal — meaning in the end, this could be an over $800 million deal.
The agreement also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. Soto’s deal surpasses the record set just last year by Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract.
Note: The headline has been corrected to Assad. A previous version had the incorrect name.