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New York https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-york/ By Euronews & AP  •  Updated: 21/09/2022 – 21:46 President Donald Trump dances with first lady Melania Trump at the Liberty Ball, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington.   –   Copyright  Alex Brandon/AP New York’s attorney general Letitia James has filed a lawsuit in state court in New York against Donald Trump and his company, in the culmination of the Democrat’s three-year civil investigation into the former US president’s business. James announced the lawsuit at a much-awaited press conference on Wednesday, during which she accused Trump of being involved in business fraud linked to some of his most prized assets, including properties in Manhattan, Chicago and Washington, DC. Specifically, she said Trump has systematically misstated the value of his properties, intentionally lying to lenders and insurers for more than a decade. In the 220-page lawsuit, the attorney general brought plenty of examples of the alleged fraud committed by the former president and his family business. The goal of the lawsuit, James explained, is to strike at the core of that same sense of opulence and entrepreneurship that the former US president has built his image and reputation on. “Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to unjustly enrich himself, and cheat the system, thereby cheating all of us,” James said at the news conference. More practically, the lawsuit is trying to get Trump and his three eldest children from ever running a business in the state of New York again. Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump, the former US president’s eldest children, are in fact also defendants in the lawsuit, as well as two long-time company executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney.  If successful, the lawsuit will remove the Trumps from businesses engaged in the alleged fraud and introduce an independent monitor appointed for no less than five years to oversee the Trump Organization’s compliance, financial reporting, valuations and disclosures to lenders, insurers and tax authorities. The current trustees of Trump’s revocable trust, which controls his business interests, would also be replaced with independent trustees, Trump and his organization would be barred from entering into commercial real estate acquisitions for five years and from obtaining loans from banks in New York for five years, and the former president and his three eldest children would be permanently barred from serving as an officer or director in any New York corporation or similar business entity registered and/or licensed in New York State. Weisselberg and McConney, on the other hand, would be permanently barred from serving in the financial control function of any New York corporation or similar business entity registered and/or licensed in New York State. The lawsuit could also be potentially escalated to the federal level. In her speech on Wednesday, James concluded that Trump and his family business violated several state criminal laws and “plausibly” broke federal criminal laws as well. But her office lacks authority to file criminal charges in this case and has referred the findings to federal prosecutors in Manhattan. It’s unclear whether the US attorney would investigate. Read More Here

Analysis | 5 Takeaways From The New York A.G.’s Sweeping Lawsuit Against Trump https://digitalarizonanews.com/analysis-5-takeaways-from-the-new-york-a-g-s-sweeping-lawsuit-against-trump/ The first shoe has dropped in the growing post-presidential legal woes of former president Donald Trump, with New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) filing a major lawsuit against Trump, his business and his family on Wednesday. The lawsuit accuses Trump, the Trump organization and three of his children — Trump Jr., Eric and Ivanka — of business fraud and misrepresenting their finances for personal gain. It also names Trump’s longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, who recently pleaded guilty to tax crimes, and Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney. It seeks to recover $250 million and severely restrict the defendants from conducting business in the state moving forward. James also said at a news conference that she was referring the matter to the Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department’s Southern District of New York for potential criminal prosecution. With James telegraphing an intense focus on Trump in the lead-up, and reportedly rebuffing an offer to settle the case recently, this lawsuit has been expected. It also comes as the former president faces potential criminal scrutiny from the federal government, the Manhattan district attorney and prosecutors in Fulton County, Ga., for a variety of issues — including his finances, the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and his retention of sensitive government documents at his residence in Florida. Trump lawyer Alina Habba responded Tuesday: “Today’s filing is neither focused on the facts nor the law — rather, it is solely focused on advancing the attorney general’s political agenda. It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place.” In a string of social media posts, Trump called the suit “Another Witch Hunt.” Below are some takeaways from the lawsuit. 1. The alleged inflations of asset values Thanks to a host of reports by newspapers including The Washington Post, as well as the previous indictment of Weisselberg, we already knew some of the details about Trump’s properties and how their values might have been inflated, laid out in James’s lawsuit. Among the key examples: claiming his triplex apartment at Trump Tower was 30,000 square feet when other documents stated it was only about 11,000 square feet; claiming other buildings had more floors and square footage than they did; claiming more residential lots than he was zoned for on his golf course; and listing values far beyond what appraisers had. But the lawsuit provides even more specifics. In one instance, it says Trump claimed money held by Vornado Partnership Interests as his — even though he owned only a 30 percent partnership stake and had no ownership interest. The lawsuit says this increased Trump’s claimed liquid assets by between $14 million and $93 million, depending on the year, thereby “often constituting a considerable portion of Mr. Trump’s reported liquidity.” At another point, it accuses Trump of seeking to “unduly influence” a lender appraisal in 2015 for 40 Wall Street in New York. The appraised value more than doubled from just three years before: In 2012, it had come in at $220 million, but the 2015 version came in at $540 million. Trump had sought to refinance the loan through Capital One but was rejected, ultimately turning to Ladder Capital Finance, which employed Weisselberg’s son Jack as a director. James’s office can only sue Trump in civil court, but her office has coordinated with the Manhattan district attorney. A major question is what the civil probe might reveal that could be used in criminal probes brought there or elsewhere. In addition to referring the matter to the IRS and the Justice Department, James’s lawsuit highlights a number of state criminal laws she says Trump violated. Among them: New York Executive Law § 63 (12), which makes it a crime to “engage in repeated fraudulent or illegal acts or otherwise demonstrate persistent fraud or illegality in the carrying on, conducting or transaction of business.” New York Penal Law § 175.10, which involves falsifying business records. New York Penal Law § 175.45, which involves issuing a false financial statement. New York Penal Law § 176.05, which deals with insurance fraud. In a footnote, the lawsuit also suggests that the alleged conduct it describes “plausibly violates” federal criminal laws: 18 U.S.C. § 1014, which deals with false statements to financial institutions. 18 U.S.C. § 1344, which deals with bank fraud. James declined to say at her news conference Wednesday whether she expected Trump to be charged criminally, saying merely that others would make that determination. 3. Explaining the disclaimer A big question in all of this is whether Trump’s allegedly false “Statements of Financial Condition,” containing purportedly inflated figures, might have broken the law and were held up as actual financial statements. The documents came with disclaimers that assured they were not the full picture of his finances. But James’s lawsuit says that while that disclaimer could insulate the accountants involved, it doesn’t absolve Trump. “While the accountants gave notice in the reports that they did not audit or review the Statements to verify the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by Mr. Trump or the Trump Organization, they confirmed that their clients were responsible for preparing the Statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States,” the suit says. It adds that such disclaimers “do not give license to Mr. Trump or the Trump Organization to submit to their accountants fraudulent and misleading asset valuations for inclusion in the Statements.” Elsewhere in the lawsuit, the attorney general’s office says the disclaimers were adjusted after McConney was questioned in the investigation in 2020. It says that after McConney was asked about the claim in the disclaimer that the valuations were reached in consultation with “outside professionals,” the language was changed to downplay the role of those “outside professionals.” “The Trump Organization’s abrupt removal of any specific references to consultation with outside professionals in connection with specific valuations is a tacit admission that such references in prior years were inaccurate and misleading,” the lawsuit says. 4. Where the $250 million figure comes from James’s lawsuit alleges that the over-valuations of Trump’s properties and other financial tricks allowed him to profit because they helped him secure favorable interest rates and other benefits. She seeks to recover $250 million that she says the defendants illegally obtained. Of that, she says $100 million represents the net gain Trump made from selling the Old Post Office property in D.C. this year, after using inaccurate statements to get favorable interest rates from Deutsche Bank to fund the construction of his hotel. The other $150 million comes from favorable interest rates received from banks for other properties. “All of those benefits were derived from the improper, repeated, and persistent use of fraudulent and misleading financial statements,” the lawsuit says. 5. A Mar-a-Lago documents connection? The lawsuit also repeatedly suggests a coverup by Trump and those around him, noting instances in which his those involved sought to cut down on written correspondence and long email chains. It also makes a reference to what had — until recently — been the biggest news involving Trump: the seizure of government documents from his residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. The lawsuit floats the idea that the search might have turned up documents that Trump’s team should have shared with the New York Attorney General’s office. It notes that the district court has said “the seized materials include … correspondence related to taxes, and accounting information.” “Documents concerning taxes and accounting information would appear to be responsive to OAG’s subpoenas, but no such documents for Mr. Trump were produced by counsel for Mr. Trump despite a representation by that counsel that: I ‘diligently searched each and every room of Respondent’s private residence located at Mar-a-Lago, including all desks, drawers, nightstands, dressers, closets, etc. I was unable to locate any documents responsive to the Subpoena that have not already been produced to the OAG by the Trump Organization.’ ” That, notably, is a similar representation to one that a Trump representative made to the Justice Department in June, saying all documents marked classified had been turned over. It doesn’t appear that was true. Read More Here

U.S. Veterans Freed From Captivity By Russian Proxies In Ukraine https://digitalarizonanews.com/u-s-veterans-freed-from-captivity-by-russian-proxies-in-ukraine/ Two U.S. military veterans held captive for months by Russian-backed separatists in northeastern Ukraine have been released along with eight other foreigners, part of a broader prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kyiv that was brokered with involvement from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the government in Riyadh and one of the American’s families said Wednesday. Alexander J. Drueke and Andy Tai Huynh, both of Alabama, were captured in June near the northeastern border city of Kharkiv. They are among the hundreds of Westerners who have traveled to Ukraine to take up arms against Russian forces. Drueke served previously in the U.S. Army while Huynh is a Marine Corps veteran. The men’s release was startling development, its announcement coming just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had ordered the mobilization of 300,000 military reservists to shore up the Kremlin’s staggering battlefield losses over the last seven months. And while it was not immediately clear who was freed in exchange for Drueke and Hyunh, their exit from captivity is certain to intensify pressure on the Biden administration to secure the release of two Americans imprisoned in Russia, WNBA star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Paul Whelan. Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia called the Americans’ families on Wednesday morning, said Dianna Shaw, Drueke’s aunt. Drueke’s mother, Lois Drueke, spoke to him for about 10 minutes, and said her son appeared to be in good condition, Shaw said, noting that Dreuke and Huynh were expected to receive medical screenings later in the day. “He sounded clearheaded, with clear speech,” Shaw said. “He sounded like himself.” Shaw expressed amazement at how the men’s release had come about, even as they awaited additional details. “I never dreamed it was a possibility that the Saudi government would be able to do something like this,” she said. “But any port in a storm.” The Saudi government said in a statement that the other prisoners released were from Britain, Morocco, Sweden and Croatia. Saudi Arabia credited itself and Mohammed personally with arranging the releases, although Riyadh’s role remains unclear. But Saudi relations with Moscow have improved in recent months even as ties with Washington have continued under stress. Much of the U.S.-Saudi strain revolves around human rights, and congressional disapproval of the way Mohammed, or MBS, as he is widely known, has run the country of which he is de facto leader under his aging father King Salman. While the crown prince has said his goal is to modernize the country, repeated assaults on the rights of women have undermined his reputation here — already low following the 2018 killing by Saudi agents in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. According to a U.S. intelligence assessment, MBS approved the operation. President Biden, looking for assistance in easing the high price of gasoline and promoting unity among Persian Gulf countries against Iran, visited Saudi Arabia in July but appeared to make little progress toward U.S. goals. At the same time, Saudi relations with Russia have deepened, including recent agreements, through the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to reduce production targets, and Saudi investments in Russian energy companies despite U.S. and European sanctions. Biden administration spokespersons said they were awaiting Ukraine’s announcement of the releases before commenting. Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. — Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 21, 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss said in a tweet that it was “hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.” Truss thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his efforts to release the prisoners, and added that Russia “must end the ruthless exploitation of prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political ends.” At least half a dozen U.S. citizens are believed to have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began in February. Another American citizen, retired Marine Corps officer Grady Kurpasi, was reported missing in southern Ukraine in late April. He was not among the prisoners released Wednesday, said George Heath, a friend speaking on behalf of Kurpasi’s family Kurpasi was last seen near the southern city of Mykolaiv, when he went to investigate the source of incoming fire. A short time later, Willy Cancel, another Marine Corps veteran in the same group, was fatally wounded, becoming the first known American veteran to die in combat in Ukraine. The Drueke and Huynh families have had sporadic contact with their loved ones since their capture, but the calls often seemed tense and scripted, Shaw said in an earlier interview. One of the biggest challenges in captivity, Drueke said in audio provided to The Post in July, was “finding little things to think about, just, you know, [to] fill in the boredom.” The U.S. government has, for many months, strongly cautioned Americans against traveling either to Ukraine or Russia. Whelan, who was convicted by a Russian court on espionage-related charges he and his family say are false, is serving a 16-year prison sentence. Griner, held in Russia since February, was sentenced last month to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges. The Biden administration regards both as having been wrongfully detained, and has assigned their cases to the U.S. government’s top hostage negotiator. Souad Mekhennet contributed to this report. War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilization” of troops in an address to the nation on Sept. 21, framing the move as an attempt to defend Russian sovereignty against a West that seeks to use Ukraine as a tool to “divide and destroy Russia.” Follow our live updates here. The fight: A successful Ukrainian counteroffensive has forced a major Russian retreat in the northeastern Kharkiv region in recent days, as troops fled cities and villages they had occupied since the early days of the war and abandoned large amounts of military equipment. Annexation referendums: Staged referendums, which would be illegal under international law, are set to take place from Sept. 23 to 27 in the breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies. Another staged referendum will be held by the Moscow-appointed administration in Kherson starting Friday. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground from the beginning of the war — here’s some of their most powerful work. How you can help: Here are ways those in the U.S. can help support the Ukrainian people as well as what people around the world have been donating. Read our full coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Are you on Telegram? 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Indiana Man Arrested After Washington Monument Vandalized With Red Paint https://digitalarizonanews.com/indiana-man-arrested-after-washington-monument-vandalized-with-red-paint/ An Indiana man was taken into custody after the Washington Monument was vandalized with red paint late Tuesday, authorities said. Shaun Ray Deaton, 44, of Bloomington, was arrested at 7:30 p.m. on charges of trespassing, tampering and vandalism, according to a statement from the National Park Service. “This is an initial criminal charge and, as the investigation continues, there may be additional charges,” the agency said. A motive was not disclosed. The area around base of the Washington Monument was temporarily closed following the incident, as the park service conservators looked to restore the statue. The U.S. Park Police guard the Washington Monument after a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint against the base of the structure on Sept. 21, 2022.Nathan Howard / Getty Images The base of the monument could be seen smeared with a splash of red paint, accompanied by the words: “Have you been f—– by this … Gov says tough s—.” The park service was given jurisdiction over the monument in 1933, with the first restoration of the structure beginning as a Depression Era public works project in 1934. Additional restoration work took place in 1964, as well as from 1998-2001 and from 2011-2014 to repair damage following an earthquake. It also saw restoration works from 2016-2019 to modernize its elevator. Chantal Da Silva Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London.  Read More Here

Trump Ally Barrack Mocks US Foreign-Agent Case As ‘Nonsense’ https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-ally-barrack-mocks-us-foreign-agent-case-as-nonsense/ By Patricia Hurtado and David Voreacos was a globe-trotting businessman who ran a $40 billion investment fund and allegations that he was an illegal foreign agent of the United Arab Emirates are “nonsense,” his lawyer told jurors at the start of his criminal trial. Defense lawyer on Wednesday mocked claims by prosecutors that Barrack acted at the “direction and control” of the Gulf Nation in a secret effort from 2016 to 2018 to influence ’s campaign and administration, while also trying to manipulate American opinion on its behalf. “The idea that Tom Barrack was controlled by anyone is nonsense,” … To read the full article log in. © 2022 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. All Rights Reserved Read More Here

WATCH: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell Delivers Remarks On Interest Rates https://digitalarizonanews.com/watch-federal-reserve-chair-jerome-h-powell-delivers-remarks-on-interest-rates/ WATCH: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell delivers remarks on interest rates  Washington Post Watch live: Powell holds press conference as Fed expected to raise interest rates  The Hill WATCH LIVE: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Holds Press Conference By Investing.com  Investing.com Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Are Confusing Stock Market, Hurting Economy  Business Insider Powell’s Hawkish Rate Outlook Could Be Painful for Job Market  The Wall Street Journal View Full Coverage on Google News Read More Here

New York Attorney General Files Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Trump, Some Of His Children And His Business https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-york-attorney-general-files-civil-fraud-lawsuit-against-trump-some-of-his-children-and-his-business/ (CNN)The New York state attorney general filed a sweeping lawsuit Wednesday against former President Donald Trump, three of his adult children and the Trump Organization, alleging they were involved in an expansive fraud lasting over a decade that the former President used to enrich himself. In the more than 200-page lawsuit, Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, alleges the fraud touched all aspects of the Trump business, including its properties and golf courses. According to the lawsuit, the Trump Organization deceived lenders, insurers and tax authorities by inflating the value of his properties using misleading appraisals. “This conduct cannot be brushed aside and dismissed as some sort of good-faith mistake,” James said at a news conference in New York. “The statements of financial condition were greatly exaggerated, grossly inflated, objectively false, and therefore fraudulent and illegal,” she added. “And as a result of that we are seeking relief, and Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization, his family — they should all be held accountable.” Trump and his children, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump, are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Allen Weisselberg, former CFO for the Trump Organization, and Jeff McConney, another longtime company executive, are also named. James said she believes state and criminal laws may have been violated and referred the matter to the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service. The US attorney’s office declined to comment. “These acts of fraud and misrepresentation were similar in nature, were committed by upper management at the Trump Organization as part of a common endeavor for each annual Statement, and were approved at the highest levels of the Trump Organization — including by Mr. Trump himself,” the lawsuit states. As part of the lawsuit, James is seeking $250 million in allegedly ill-gotten funds and to permanently bar Trump and the children named in the lawsuit from serving as the director of a business registered in New York state. She is also seeking to cancel the Trump Organization’s corporate certificate, which, if granted by a judge, could effectively force the company to cease operations in New York state. Trump previously called James a “renegade prosecutor” who he said is running a “vindictive and self-serving fishing expedition.” The Trump Organization called her previously allegations “baseless” and denied any wrongdoing. Responding to Wednesday’s announcement, Trump attorney Alina Habba said in a statement to CNN: “Today’s filing is neither focused on the facts nor the law — rather, it is solely focused on advancing the Attorney General’s political agenda. It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place.” Weisselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante, declined to comment. The civil lawsuit comes as Trump is under increasing legal pressure as prosecutors are taking investigative steps that move ever closer to his inner circle. Trump is facing numerous criminal investigations from federal and state prosecutors involving the accuracy of his company’s financial statements, interference in the 2020 presidential election, and his handling of classified documents after leaving office. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. AG alleges that Trump lied 200+ times about the value of his assets James alleges that the former President and his company made “scores of fraudulent, false, and misleading representations” over a 10-year period, according to the lawsuit, which specifically highlighted what it called “200 false and misleading valuations” of Trump’s assets. “The financial statements in question were issued annually; each contained a significant number of fraudulent, false, and misleading representations about a great many of the Trump Organization’s assets; and most played a role in particular transactions with financial institutions,” the lawsuit alleges. “The number of grossly inflated asset values is staggering,” the suit adds. According to James, Trump’s businesses prepared statements of financial condition every year to submit to banks and other financial institutions. The statements showed the financial position of the Trump businesses, James said, and were relied upon if the Trump Organization wanted to apply for loans. Each statement was personally certified as accurate by Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., or Weisselberg, James told reporters on Wednesday. Trump “made known” that “he wanted his net worth reflected on those statements to increase,” James said, “a desire Mr. Weisselberg and others carried out year after year in their fraudulent preparation of those statements.” As an example of allegations Trump inflated valuations to increase his own profits. James highlighted what she says happened with 40 Wall Street, a property known as The Trump Building in New York City’s financial district, which is referenced dozens of times in the lawsuit. Trump’s company obtained appraisals for the property in 2010 and 2012, which found that it was worth $200 million and $220 million respectively, according to the lawsuit. But Trump’s company repeatedly claimed that the property was worth a lot more in its official financial statements, according to the lawsuit. In 2011, Trump’s company said the property was worth $524 million. He said it was worth $527 million in 2012, and $530 million in 2013, according to the lawsuit, which argued that there was not a valid basis for these inflated valuations, and that Trump falsely claimed these numbers came from “professionals.” During Wednesday’s news conference James also said that Trump inflated the square footage of his Trump Tower triplex apartment in order to misrepresent the value at over $300 million. “Mr. Trump represented that his apartments spanned more than 30,000 square feet, which was the basis for valuing the apartment. In reality, the apartment had an area of less than 11,000 square feet, something that Mr. Trump was well aware of,” James said. She added: “Based on that inflated square footage, the value of the apartment in 2015, in 2016, was $327 million. To this date, no apartment in New York City has ever sold for close to that amount.” Three-year investigation The announcement is the latest development in what has been a three-year investigation led by James into the Trump Organization’s finances. In January, James’ office said it found “significant” evidence indicating the Trump Organization used false or misleading asset valuations in its financial statements to obtain loans, insurance and tax benefits. The following month, Trump’s long-time accounting firm resigned. James’ launched her investigation in 2019 after Trump’s former fixer and personal attorney Michael Cohen testified before Congress alleging that Trump inflated the value of certain assets to obtain loans and insurance and undervalued others to gain tax benefits. In addition to the new fraud lawsuit, the Trump Organization is going on trial next month on charges it was engaged in a 15-year tax fraud scheme and its long-time chief financial officer has agreed to testify against the company. Weisselberg, who served as chief financial officer at the Trump Organization for decades, pleaded guilty in August to his role in a 15-year-long tax fraud scheme, and as part of the deal, he had agreed to testify against Trump’s real estate company at trial. In recent weeks, the Trump Organization had offered to settle to ward off the lawsuit even as they denied any wrongdoing, but James’ office made it clear it wasn’t interested in a deal, people familiar with the matter said. AG: Trump’s oldest children ‘knowingly participated’ Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. “knowingly participated” in the alleged fraudulent schemes, the lawsuit states. The alleged scheme “required the participation of Mr. Trump and his children,” the lawsuit said, adding that the children were “aware of the true financial performance of the company.” The lawsuit, for instance, alleges that Eric Trump was involved in an approach to appraising properties in Las Vegas in a way that lowered their value for tax purposes while inflating their value on Trump financial statements. It also quotes testimony from Trump Jr. as it describes how the value of Trump Park Avenue was allegedly inflated on Trump financial statements. An appraisal of the property by an outside firm in 2010 for a loan took into account how some of the units were rent-stabilized, lowering their value, according to James’ complaint. Yet, Trump financial statements put a value on the units roughly six times higher than what the appraiser had concluded, the lawsuit said. And the lawsuit pointed to Ivanka Trump’s involvement in securing a loan for purchasing the Doral golf course in Florida and Chicago properties in 2012 — loans that James claims were extended in part because of financial statements allegedly containing misrepresentations. “On each of those transactions with Deutsche Bank, Ms. Trump was aware that the transactions included a personal guaranty from Mr. Trump that required him to provide annual Statements of Financial Condition and certifications,” the lawsuit says. Family was deposed by AG’s office In April, after a protracted legal fight to enforce subpoenas for Trump and his adult children’s depositions, lawyers with James’ office saying they were nearing the end of the investigation and needed the Trumps’ testimony before making a decision. Last month, Trump did not answer questions and asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incri...

Donald Trump And Children Are Sued By New York Attorney General For Fraud | Politics https://digitalarizonanews.com/donald-trump-and-children-are-sued-by-new-york-attorney-general-for-fraud-politics/ Reuters | Washington DC | Updated: 22-09-2022 00:15 IST | Created: 22-09-2022 00:03 IST Donald Trump, his family business, and three of his adult children were sued on Wednesday by New York’s attorney general, who accused them of overvaluing the former U.S. president’s assets and net worth through a decade of lies to banks and insurers. Attorney General Letitia James filed her civil lawsuit in a New York state court in Manhattan, accusing the Trump Organization of “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” in preparing financial statements from 2011 to 2021. She also said Trump, who has long used his net worth to burnish his image and fame as a successful businessman and politician, inflated his wealth by billions of dollars to help his company obtain favorable financial terms on transactions, including lower interest rates and cheaper insurance coverage. The 214-page complaint also names Trump’s adult children Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump as defendants, as well as longtime company executives including former Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg. The lawsuit adds to the many legal problems Trump faces. These include a criminal probe in Georgia over his efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election, and a federal investigation into his handling of presidential records, prompting an FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Aug. 8. The Trump Organization manages hotels, golf courses and other real estate around the world, and had been under investigation by James for more than three years. James, a Democrat, said the values of 23 assets had been “grossly and fraudulently inflated,” and her office uncovered more than 200 examples of misleading asset valuations. Those assets included marquee properties such as Mar-a-Lago in Florida and Trump’s penthouse apartment atop Manhattan’s Trump Tower, James said. The lawsuit seeks to recoup at least $250 million of alleged improper gains. “Claiming that you have money that you do not have does not amount to the ‘art of the deal,’ it’s the art of the steal,” James told a news conference, alluding to Donald Trump’s 1987 memoir. She called the “pattern of fraud and deception” used by Trump and the Trump Organization “astounding.” Trump, in a statement posted on Truth Social, called the lawsuit “Another Witch Hunt by a racist Attorney General” who was pursuing the case for political gain. James is Black and running for reelection in November. Trump has not announced whether he will run for president in 2024, but would likely be a Republican frontrunner. While the case does not involve criminal charges, James said Trump repeatedly violated several state criminal laws and may have violated federal criminal law, and asked U.S. prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service to investigate. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan declined to comment. ‘DISASTERS OF THE WORLD’ James wants to remove the Trumps from power at their company, and prohibit Trump and his adult children from serving as corporate officers or directors in New York. She also wants to install a monitor for the Trump Organization, and bar the company and Trump from buying commercial real estate in New York or borrowing money from state-chartered banks for five years. The lawsuit said Trump’s scheme was designed to fraudulently induce banks to lend money more cheaply, coax insurers into provide coverage for higher limits at lower premiums, and obtain tax benefits. James said Trump pretended his Trump Tower apartment was 30,000 square feet, when it was actually 10,996 square feet, and that its $327 million valuation in 2015 was “absurd” because no New York City apartment had sold for $100 million at the time. She also said Trump valued Mar-a-Lago as high as $739 million by pretending it could be developed for residential use, and that it should have been valued closer to $75 million. James said her office rejected settlement offers from the defendants, but “our doors are always open” for negotiations. She said Trump could try to move his company or borrow elsewhere, but that would not excuse him from his obligations in New York. “There cannot be different rules for different people in this country or state, and former presidents are no different,” James said. The attorney general opened her probe after Michael Cohen, who was Trump’s lawyer and fixer before turning on him, said in congressional testimony that the former president had inflated some asset values to save money on loans and insurance. Trump was called to testify under oath at a Aug. 10 deposition for the probe, where he invoked his right against self-incrimination under the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment more than 400 times. “The Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place,” Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, said in a statement, calling the accusations “meritless.” Donald Trump Jr tweeted that James was “weaponizing her office to go after her political opponents!” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has separately charged the Trump Organization with criminal tax fraud, and is preparing for an Oct. 24 trial. Weisselberg has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against the company, which has pleaded not guilty. “Our criminal investigation concerning former President Donald J. Trump, the Trump Organization, and its leadership is active and ongoing,” Bragg said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Read More Here

Jury Hears Opening Statements At NYC Trial Of Trump Ally https://digitalarizonanews.com/jury-hears-opening-statements-at-nyc-trial-of-trump-ally/ NEW YORK — (AP) — A close ally of Donald Trump used his access to the former president to secretly help the United Arab Emirates try to gain influence over American foreign policy in a scheme about “power and money,” a prosecutor said Wednesday at a federal trial. Under the direction of UAE officials, billionaire Tom Barrack — who chaired Trump’s inaugural committee 2017 — provided the officials with sensitive inside information about the Trump campaign and administration, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hiral Mehta told a jury in opening statements in federal court in Brooklyn. At the same time, the energy-rich U.S. ally poured millions of dollars into business ventures operated by Barrack and his co-defendants, Mehta said. “When Donald Trump ran for president, the defendants saw an opportunity — an opportunity to use Barrack’s unique access to gain power and money for themselves,” Mehta said. Barrack, he added, considered himself the “eyes, ears and voice of the UAE,” which at one point asked him to find out who Trump was considering for secretary of state and other key Cabinet positions. Barrack, 75, was arrested last year and released on $250 million bail. He has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, obstruction of justice and making false statements. In his opening statement, defense attorney Steven Schachter insisted there was no evidence that Barrack ever took orders from the UAE or betrayed his country by becoming a covert agent. Instead, his client was only pursuing legitimate business and political interests, Schachter said. “Tom Barrack is his own man,” he said. “Everything that Tom did, you’re going to see that he did as his own man, making his own decisions.” Before being indicted, Barrack — a friend of Trump for decades — drew attention by raising $107 million for the former president’s inaugural celebration following the 2016 election. The event was scrutinized both for its lavish spending and for attracting foreign officials and businesspeople looking to lobby the new administration. The Los Angeles-based private equity manager was a key figure in UAE investments in a tech fund and real estate totaling $374 million. Prosecutors say that while he was nurturing those business deals, he convinced Trump to take meeting and phone calls with UAE leaders. Other efforts included drafting a campaign speech for Trump that praised a member of the country’s royal family, passing information back to the Emiratis about how senior U.S. officials felt about a boycott of Qatar, and promising to advance the interests of the UAE if he were appointed as an ambassador or envoy to the Middle East. Such an appointment “would give ABU DHABI more power!” Barrack wrote in one message obtained by federal prosecutors, referring to the capital of UAE, which commands tens of billions of dollars in wealth funds from its oil and gas deposits. The U.S. government is seeking to present evidence at trial that Barrack was in close communication with the UAE’s director of national intelligence, Ali al-Shamsi. “Al Shamsi was one of the most important UAE government officials that the defendants communicated with as part of the charged scheme, particularly given his senior role in UAE intelligence operations, and testimony regarding his role and responsibilities is central to this case,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The defense has sought to exclude evidence of Barrack’s lavish lifestyle, arguing in court papers that it would invite the jury to convict Barrack “based on improper emotional appeals and creates a substantial risk of class bias.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Trump, Adult Children Sued By New York Attorney General For Fraud https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-adult-children-sued-by-new-york-attorney-general-for-fraud/ (L-R) Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump attend the ground breaking of the Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office Building in Washington, July 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his adult children were sued on Wednesday for what New York state’s attorney general called numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation, accused of misstating the values of real estate properties to obtain favorable loans and tax benefits. The lawsuit, filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, accused the Trump Organization of wrongdoing in preparing Trump’s annual statements of financial condition from 2011 to 2021. It also named as defendants the Trump Organization – a family company that manages hotels, golf courses and other real estate around the world – as well as the former president’s sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump. Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said her office uncovered more than 200 examples of misleading asset valuations, and the complaint mentioned 23 assets that she called “grossly and fraudulently inflated.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Trump in a social media post called the lawsuit, one of the biggest legal blows for the Republican businessman-turned-politician since he left office in January 2021, “another Witch Hunt” and launched a personal attack on James. Trump is considering running for president again in 2024. The lawsuit was civil, meaning it did not involve criminal charges. But James said she was referring allegations of criminal wrongdoing to federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the Internal Revenue Service for investigation. “The pattern of fraud and deception that was used by Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization for their own financial benefit is astounding,” James told a news conference. “Claiming that you have money that you do not have does not amount to the ‘art of the deal,’ it’s the art of the steal,” James said, referring to the title of a 1987 book written by Trump. The lawsuit accused Trump of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to induce banks to lend money to his company on more favorable, to satisfy continuing loan terms, to coax insurers to provide coverage for higher limits at lower premiums, to gain tax benefits and other purposes. James is seeking to permanently bar Trump and his three children named as defendants in the case from serving as an officer or director in any New York corporation, prohibit Trump and the Trump Organization from entering into any commercial real estate acquisitions in New York for five years and award disgorgement of all financial benefits gained fraudulently – estimated to total $250 million. read more James said her office rejected settlement offers submitted by the defendants, but said “our doors are always open” for future negotiations. The Trump Organization has separately been charged with criminal tax fraud by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and is preparing for an Oct. 24 trial. Its former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg – who is also named as a defendant in James’ suit – has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against the company. read more ‘DISASTERS OF THE WORLD’ Following the news conference by James, Trump on social media disparaged her integrity. “She is a fraud who campaigned on a ‘get Trump’ platform, despite the fact that the city is one of the crime and murder disasters of the world under her watch!” Trump wrote. James opened the civil investigation into Trump’s business practices after Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, said in congressional testimony that the president inflated some asset values to save money on loans and insurance. “The Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place,” Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, said in a statement, calling the accusations “meritless.” Wednesday’s lawsuit followed a contentious investigation in which James accused Trump, his company and some family members of using delay tactics to ignore subpoenas and avoid testifying. Trump on Aug. 10 declined to answer questions in a closed-door deposition at the office of the attorney general, invoking his right against self-incrimination under the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment more than 400 times. Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump agreed to sit for depositions only after courts required it. Eric Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 500 times in a 2020 deposition. read more Among the properties James cited as examples in the lawsuit was Trump’s own apartment in Manhattan’s Trump Tower. James said Trump said the apartment was 30,000 square feet, when in fact it was only 10,996 square feet, and that its $327 million valuation in 2015 was “absurd” since no New York City apartment had sold for $100 million at the time. She also said Trump valued his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as high as $739 million by pretending it could be developed for residential use, when he knew there were restrictions. James said Mar-a-Lago should have been valued closer to $75 million. James also aims to bar Trump and his company from borrowing from state-licensed banks for five years. She acknowledged that Trump, who now lives in Florida, could try to move his company or borrow elsewhere, but that would not excuse him from his obligations in New York. “There cannot be different rules for different people in this country or state, and former presidents are no different,” James said. Trump has been beset with legal troubles. The FBI conducted a search at Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8 as part of a criminal investigation into his handling of presidential records including classified material. read more Trump also faces a criminal investigation in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. read more He has denied wrongdoing in the various probes. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, Karen Freifeld and Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Luc Cohen Thomson Reuters Reports on the New York federal courts. Previously worked as a correspondent in Venezuela and Argentina. Read More Here

Dow Rises 100 Points As Wall Street Braces For Fed Rate Hike Decision https://digitalarizonanews.com/dow-rises-100-points-as-wall-street-braces-for-fed-rate-hike-decision/ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Freyr Battery, Stitch Fix and more Here are some of the stocks making the biggest moves during midday trading: Freyr Battery — Shares of the electric vehicle battery maker shot up 17.6% after Morgan Stanley said the company’s price target was double where it is now. The bull estimate for the price was three times over its current price. Stitch Fix — Stitch Fix was up about 12%, even after the company posted downbeat quarterly numbers. The online styling company lost 89 cents per share in the previous quarter on a net revenue that was down 16% from the same quarter a year ago. General Mills — Shares of the food producer jumped 7% after the company posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit. General Mills also raised its full-year sales forecast amid higher prices and strong demand for cereal, snacks and pet food. Read the the full list of stocks here. — Sarah Min Expect a ‘short-lived’ relief rally coming off of Fed decision, Wolfe Research’s Senyek says Prepare for a brief market rally after the Federal Reserve doles out its rate hike decision on Wednesday, Wolfe Research’s Chris Senyek says. “Our sense is that markets could be set up for a short-lived relief rally if the Fed hikes by +75bps and Powell doesn’t ratchet up his hawkish rhetoric even further,” he wrote in a note to clients. “That said, we don’t anticipate having to change our intermediate-term bearish call.” Going forward, Senyek expects core inflation to remain sticky. That will likely force the Fed to raise the fed funds rate to 5% or greater if it hopes to achieve its long-term goal of 2%. Vital Knowledge’s Adam Crisafulli agreed with Senyek’s sentiment. “The consensus view is that stocks will squeeze after the Fed this afternoon before surrendering the whole move and then some Thurs, Fri, and beyond,” he said in a note to clients Wednesday. — Samantha Subin Yield on 2-year Treasury note tops 4% for first time since October 2007 The yield on the 2-year Treasury note hit above 4% for the first time since 2007 on Wednesday as traders questioned whether the Federal Reserve will need to hike even further to tame surging inflation. The 2-year Treasury yield rose 4 basis points to 4.006%. It last touched that level in October 2007. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury was last trading at 3.561%, down by roughly 1 basis points, after notching an 11-year high this week. According to some investors, the inversion — which continues to put short-term rates above long-term rates — indicates rising risks of a recession ahead. — Fred Imbert, Samantha Subin Only two stocks hit new 52-week highs on Wednesday General Mills and Northrop Grumman were the only two stocks in the S&P 500 to hit new 52-week highs during Wednesday morning trading. General Mills is trading at all-time highs dating back to 1927, and Northrop Grumman is at its highest point since the 1994 merger between Northrop Aircraft and Grumman Aerospace. Meanwhile, eight stocks in the broader market index hit new 52-week lows, including Match Group, which is trading at an all-time low since its 2015 IPO. Here are the new S&P 500 52-week lows: Charter Communications trading at lows not seen since March 2020 Meta Platforms trading at lows not seen since March 2020 Match Group trading at all-time lows back to its IPO in November 2015 Verizon trading at lows not seen since August 2015 Cooper Companies trading at lows not seen since July 2020 Southwest trading at lows not seen since August 2020 Catalent trading at lows not seen since October 2020 Micron trading at lows not seen since November 2020 — Christopher Hayes, Sarah Min Oil futures soften Oil futures have given up their overnight gains that followed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a partial military mobilization for the war in Ukraine. Futures for U.S. benchmark West Texas intermediate were down 0.2% to $83.77 per barrel. European benchmark Brent crude futures were trading flat at $90.67 per barrel. While the ongoing war and sanctions on Russia have pressured energy supply, particularly in Europe, oil prices have trended downward in recent months in part because concerns about a global recession have damped the outlook for demand. — Jesse Pound Defensive sectors lead Wednesday’s gains Sectors in the S&P 500 with a defensive tilt led most of the gains in the benchmark index on Wednesday. All 11 sectors — with the exception of communication services — were positive. Utilities and consumer staples were the best-performing areas, rising more than 1% each. Real estate and industrials also added 1%. — Samantha Subin Existing home sales decline in August Existing home sales declined in August at the slowest monthly pace since June 2020, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Sales of previously owned homes fell 0.4% in August from last month to seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 4.80 million units and were 19.9% lower year over year. — Diana Olick, Samantha Subin Stocks open higher ahead of Fed decision Stocks opened higher on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 171 points, or 0.56%. The S&P 500 climbed 0.57%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.34%. — Samantha Subin The Fed has a big agenda in addition to expected rate increase In addition to its expected interest rate hike, the Federal Reserve has multiple other items on the docket for its two-day meeting that concludes Wednesday. The central bank is expected to raise benchmark interest rates by 0.75 percentage point. But along with that, it also will provide updates on its economic and rates forecasts over the next three years. Pivotal in that outlook will be the “terminal” rate, or point when the Fed thinks it will need to stop hiking to battle runaway inflation. Chairman Jerome Powell also will hold his traditional post-meeting news conference, where he is expected to emphasize the Fed’s commitment to battling inflation even if it means harm to the broader economy. “Fighting inflation is job-one,” said Eric Winograd, senior economist at AllianceBernstein. “The consequences of not fighting inflation are greater than the consequences of fighting it. If that means recession, then that’s what it means.” —Jeff Cox Brace for disappointment coming out of the Fed meeting, Comerica’s Lynch says Investors should prepare for more upset following the Federal Reserve’s latest rate-hike meeting as inflation numbers show persistent pressures beyond just food and energy, said Comerica Wealth Management’s John Lynch. “Investors will be looking for clarity on the extent of the Fed’s tightening campaign and we suspect they’ll be disappointed,” he said, adding that the inflation moves further complicate the Fed’s decision making. Given this backdrop, Lynch expects equities to retest June lows and believes third-quarter earnings — and revisions to companies’ guidance — will muddle investor sentiment. “Fortunately, history shows improved market performance following midterm elections, so we encourage investors to maintain targeted allocations,” he said. — Samantha Subin Financials, tech earnings should rebound in 2023, says Credit Suisse’s Golub Energy earnings have widely outperformed the broader S&P 500 this year, but Credit Suisse’s Jonathan Golub expects the tables to turn come 2023. “While Energy EPS is forecasted to grow 100%+ in 2022, Financials and TECH+ earnings are projected to experience an outright contraction,” he wrote in a note to clients Wednesday. “However, these distortions are expected to reverse in 2023, with Energy EPS predicted to contract -12% while, Financials and TECH+ earnings are projected to grow double-digits.” Earnings growth for the S&P 500 is expected to grow by just 6.1% during the first half of 2023, but expand by 9.1% through the second half. — Samantha Subin Wheat and corn ETFs gain pre-market as Russia calls up 300,000 reservists The Teucrium Wheat Fund and Teucrium Corn Fund rose pre-market Wednesday after Russia called up 300,000 reservists to add to forces fighting against Ukraine. The wheat ETF is higher by about 0.8% while the corn ETF is adding about 0.4%. December wheat contracts reached a high of $9.195 per bushel earlier, the highest since July 11, while December corn hit $6.985 (only a nine-day high). — Scott Schnipper, Gina Francolla Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Beyond Meat, Stitch Fix, Aurora Cannabis and more These are some of the stocks making big moves in the premarket: Stitch Fix — Stitch Fix’s stock slid 5.9% in premarket trading after reporting a wider-than-expected quarterly loss and issuing a weak forecast. The online clothing styling company expects sales to fall over the short term as the number of active customers declines. Beyond Meat – Beyond Meat suspended Chief Operating Officer Doug Ramsey after he was involved in a physical altercation over the weekend which resulted in third-degree battery and terroristic threatening charges. Beyond Meat fell 1.1% in premarket trading on top of a 6% slide Tuesday. Aurora Cannabis – Aurora Cannabis lost 2.1% in the premarket after reporting a breakeven quarter, on an adjusted basis, surprising analysts who predicted a quarterly loss. The Canada-based cannabis producer saw overall revenue come in slightly below expectations. Read the full list of stocks moving in premarket action here. — Peter Schacknow, Samantha Subin Dollar index touches fresh high The dollar index, which has been on a tear in recent weeks, notched a fresh high of 110.869 on Wednesday. That marked the index’s highest level since June 2002, when it hit a high of 110.87. Meanwhile, the euro hit a low of 0.9883 agains...

New York AG Sues Trump, His Children And Their Company On Charges Of Large-Scale Business Fraud https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-york-ag-sues-trump-his-children-and-their-company-on-charges-of-large-scale-business-fraud/ New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a sweeping lawsuit Wednesday against former President Donald Trump, his three eldest children and the Trump Organization in connection with her yearslong civil investigation into the company’s business practices. In the suit, which runs more than 200 pages, James’ office details what it says are the former president’s efforts to inflate his personal net worth to attract favorable loan agreements and lists more than 200 alleged instances of fraud over 10 years. James is seeking to bar the Trump family from being in the office of any New York-based company for five years and from receiving loans from any New York-registered financial institution for that same amount of time. She is also seeking about $250 million in penalties. “For too long, powerful, wealthy people in this country have operated as if the rules do not apply to them,” James said in a statement. “Donald Trump stands out as among the most egregious examples of this misconduct. With the help of his children and senior executives at the Trump Organization, Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to unjustly enrich himself and cheat the system.” James’ office said in a release that the former president made fraudulent and misleading statements “in both their composition and their presentation.” Trump made known through Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s former chief financial officer, that he wanted his net worth to increase every year and used financial statements as a “vehicle” to fraudulently inflate his net worth by billions of dollars annually, the office alleges. Trump and his company falsely claimed their statements were prepared in consultation with outside professionals, James said, adding that the statements blatantly violated “generally accepted accounting principles.” Those violations include representing that Trump had cash on hand that he did not, ignoring critical restrictions that would significantly lower property values when setting valuations, changing the methodology for estimating such values from year to year and using different methods for different properties even in the same year, and including intangible items when making the calculations. At a news conference Wednesday, James also detailed Trump and his company’s alleged violations of state and federal laws by having “repeatedly and persistently manipulated the value of assets to induce banks to lend money” to the organization “on more favorable terms than would otherwise have been available to the company.” For example, the former president inflated the square footage of his triplex apartment in Trump Tower, she said. “Mr. Trump represented that his apartments spanned more than 30,000 square feet, which was the basis for valuing the apartment,” she said. “In reality, the apartment had an area of less than 11,000 square feet, something that Mr. Trump was well aware of.” Asked during the news conference whether she would be willing to reach a settlement agreement, James declined to “negotiate in public,” but confirmed a New York Times report last week that her office had rejected a settlement offer. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment to NBC News on the criminal referral from James’ office. A Trump Organization spokesman characterized James’ suit as a “culmination of nearly three years of persistent, targeted, unethical political harassment.” “While the job of the attorney general is to protect the interests of the public, today’s filing, for the first time in the history of the attorney general’s office, seeks to protect the interests of large, sophisticated Wall Street banks,” the spokesman said in a statement. Alina Habba, a lawyer representing Trump in the case, said the lawsuit “is neither focused on the facts nor the law — rather, it is solely focused on advancing the attorney general’s political agenda. It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place.” James’ lawsuit follows months of efforts by the former president and his three eldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump — to avoid testifying and turning over business documents. Trump sued the New York attorney general in federal court in December, seeking a halt to her civil probe and casting the investigation as politically motivated. But U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that while Trump and his company pointed to several comments that they argue show James’ “personal animus toward Mr. Trump and evince an intent to retaliate for or stifle plaintiffs’ free speech,” they did not show her effort to enforce subpoenas against the company “was commenced for the purpose of retaliation.” Trump also sought to impede the probe in New York, but in February, a state judge ordered the former president, Don Jr. and Ivanka Trump to sit for depositions and produce the documents subpoenaed by James. The Trump Organization has denied any wrongdoing in court filings and argued that it has exceeded expectations in complying with document requests. James’ office pushed back on that assertion and sought to hold Trump in civil contempt. Her office alleged in court filings in April that Trump failed to comply with state Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron’s order to turn over subpoenaed documents and sought to fine him $10,000 a day until he provided the records, which the judge granted weeks later. During an hourslong deposition at James’ office last month, Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, answering only a question about his name, his attorney, Ron Fischetti, said. Fischetti said Trump was asked about the valuations of various items and golf clubs, signing documents, mortgages, loans and the size of his apartment. A source with knowledge of the deposition said Trump took the Fifth more than 440 times. The former president’s deposition took place weeks after Don Jr. and Ivanka Trump testified in the civil probe in July. NBC News reported that neither of Trump’s two eldest children invoked the Fifth Amendment’s protection. Other Trump Organization executives have also been questioned, including Eric Trump. The Trump Organization also faces a criminal prosecution over its business dealings, led by the Manhattan district attorney. The company’s former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges in that case, which is set to go to trial next month. Trump also faces a federal investigation over his storage of sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago home, in Florida. Trump has contended that he declassified the various top secret and other highly sensitive documents found there. Read More Here

New York Attorney General Sues Donald Trump And His Company https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-york-attorney-general-sues-donald-trump-and-his-company/ NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general sued former President Donald Trump and his company for fraud on Wednesday, alleging they padded his net worth by billions of dollars by manipulating the value of prized assets including golf courses, hotels and his homes at Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago. Attorney General Letitia James dubbed it: “The art of the steal.” James’ lawsuit, filed in state court in New York, is the culmination of the Democrat’s three-year civil investigation of Trump and the Trump Organization. Trump’s three eldest children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump, were also named as defendants, along with two longtime company executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney. The lawsuit strikes at the core of what made Trump famous, taking a blacklight to the image of wealth and opulence he’s embraced throughout his career — first as a real estate developer, then as a reality TV host on “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice,” and later as president. James is seeking repayment of at least $250 million she alleges the Trumps pocketed from the scheme. James, a Democrat, announced details of the lawsuit at a news conference on Wednesday. She said her office filed the case — which is civil, not criminal in nature — after rejecting settlement offers made by lawyers for the defendants. The alleged scheme was intended to burnish Trump’s billionaire image and the value of his properties when doing so gave him an advantage, such as in obtaining favorable loan terms, while playing down the value of assets at other times for tax purposes, James’ office said. “This investigation revealed that Donald Trump engaged in years of illegal conduct to inflate his net worth, to deceive banks and the people of the great state of New York,” James said at the news conference. “Claiming you have money that you do not have does not amount to the art of the deal. It’s the art of the steal.” James said her investigation uncovered potential criminal violations, including falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements, insurance fraud, conspiracy and bank fraud. She said her office is referring those findings to federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service. Alina Habba, an attorney for Trump, said the lawsuit “is neither focused on the facts nor the law — rather, it is solely focused on advancing the Attorney General’s political agenda.” “It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place,” Habba said. “We are confident that our judicial system will not stand for this unchecked abuse of authority, and we look forward to defending our client against each and every one of the Attorney General’s meritless claims.” James is seeking to remove the Trumps from businesses engaged in the alleged fraud and wants an independent monitor appointed for no less than five years to oversee the Trump Organization’s compliance, financial reporting, valuations and disclosures to lenders, insurers and tax authorities. She is seeking to replace the current trustees of Trump’s revocable trust, which controls his business interests, with independent trustees, to bar Trump and the Trump Organization from entering into commercial real estate acquisitions for five years, from obtaining loans from banks in New York for five years and permanently bar Trump and three of his adult children from serving as an officer or director in any New York corporation or similar business entity registered and/or licensed in New York State. She also seeks to permanently bar Weisselberg and McConney from serving in the financial control function of any New York corporation or similar business entity registered and/or licensed in New York State. James’ lawsuit comes amid a swirl of unprecedented legal challenges for a former president, including an FBI investigation into Trump’s handling of classified records and inquiries into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The Trump Organization is set to go on trial in October in a criminal case alleging that it schemed to give untaxed perks to senior executives, including its longtime finance chief Weisselberg, who alone took more than $1.7 million in extras. Weisselberg, 75, pleaded guilty Aug. 18. His plea agreement requires him to testify at the company’s trial before he starts a five-month jail sentence. If convicted, the Trump Organization could face a fine of double the amount of unpaid taxes. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been conducting a parallel criminal investigation of the same business practices at the heart of James’ civil lawsuit. That probe lost momentum earlier this year after Bragg raised questions internally about whether a criminal case was viable, but the Democrat has said it has not been abandoned. At the same time, the FBI is continuing to investigate Trump’s storage of sensitive government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and a special grand jury in Georgia is investigating whether Trump and others attempted to influence state election officials. All of the legal drama is playing out ahead of the November midterm elections, where Republicans are trying to win control of one or both houses of Congress. Meanwhile, Trump has been laying the groundwork for a potential comeback campaign for president in 2024 and has accused President Joe Biden’s administration of targeting him to hurt his political chances. State law allows a broad range of civil remedies against companies committing commercial fraud, including revoking licenses to conduct business in the state, removing company officers and forcing the payment of restitution or disgorgement of ill-gotten gains. James’ office could also seek to ban Trump from being involved in certain types of businesses, as happened in January when a judge barred ex-drug company CEO Martin Shkreli from the pharmaceutical industry for life. In a previous clash with Trump, James oversaw the closure of his charity, the Trump Foundation, after her predecessor in the attorney general’s office, Barbara Underwood, filed a lawsuit alleging he misused its assets to resolve business disputes and boost his run for the White House. A judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million to an array of charities to settle the matter. James, who campaigned for office as a Trump critic and watchdog, started scrutinizing his business practices in March 2019 after his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements provided to Deutsche Bank when he was trying to obtain financing to buy the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. Since then, James’ office and Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly sparred over the direction of the investigation and Trump’s unwillingness to comply with subpoenas for his testimony and records. Trump spent months fighting the subpoena that led to his August deposition, his lawyers unable to convince courts that he should be excused from testifying because his answers could be used in Bragg’s criminal probe. In May, Trump paid $110,000 in fines after he was held in contempt of court for being slow to respond to a subpoena James’ office issued seeking documents and other evidence. The contempt finding was lifted in June after Trump and his lawyers submitted paperwork showing they had made a good faith effort to find relevant documents. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Trump Family, Organization Engaged In Fraudulent Practices, AG James Says In New Lawsuit https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-family-organization-engaged-in-fraudulent-practices-ag-james-says-in-new-lawsuit/ STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Attorney General Letitia James announced a new lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump family and its business organization over years of allegedly fraudulent practices. James’ suit seeks to remove former President Donald Trump, and his children — Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump — from their roles with the Trump Organization, and prevent them from future corporate leadership roles. Trump allegedly inflated his net worth by billions of dollars while manipulating asset values to dodge taxes or secure better loan terms depending on which would provide the greatest financial benefit, James said during a press conference in Manhattan. “All told, we uncovered more than 200 examples of false or misleading asset valuations,” she said. “The pattern of fraud and deception that was used by Mr. Trump and the Trump organization for their own financial benefit is astounding.” In addition to barring Trump and his children from serving in a corporate leadership role, James’ suit wants to prevent the former president and his organization from buying commercial real estate or receiving loans for 5 years, and seeking $250 million in damages. Some alleged actions include Trump lying about the amount of cash he had on hand, using different methodologies to value some of his properties, and including allegedly fraudulent premiums when calculating the value of properties. James pointed specifically to Trump’s Trump Tower triplex apartment on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue at which he valued at $327 million in 2015 and 2016 despite an apartment never selling near that amount in New York City. To achieve the overvaluation, James said Trump misrepresented the apartment’s size, nearly tripling its floor area. Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, told investigators during sworn testimony that the false square footage amounted to an over valuation of “give or take $200 million,” James said. “Tripling the size of the apartment’s size for the purposes of the valuation was intentional and deliberate fraud, not an honest mistake,” James said. “Misrepresenting the size of the apartment was only one of the many ways that Mr. Trump mis-valued his assets.” The attorney general’s lawsuit amounts to a civil action, but James said that her office’s 3-year investigation also found evidence of criminal action, which have been recommended to the relevant authorities. In response to the announcement, New York Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy described James’ civil suit as “one of the most brazen political publicity stunts I have seen during my lifetime” given its proximity to the November elections. “Recent polling confirms that voters are leaving her and her fellow Democrats in droves, and as we have consistently seen from New York Democrats, they have no problem breaking laws or trampling our constitution to try and hold onto power,” Langworthy said. “This lawsuit isn’t worth the paper it’s written on and voters of all stripes should be deeply disturbed by this reckless abuse of power that is being wielded purely for political gain.” Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Read More Here

Yolanda C Lopez Obituary (2022) https://digitalarizonanews.com/yolanda-c-lopez-obituary-2022/ Yolanda Lopez’s passing on Sunday, September 18, 2022 has been publicly announced by Carrillo’s Tucson Mortuary – Tucson in Tucson, AZ. According to the funeral home, the following services have been scheduled: Visitation, on October 11, 2022 at 8:00 a.m., ending at 10:15 a.m., at Carrillo’s Tucson Mortuary (South Chapel), 240 S. Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ. Service, on October 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., at Santa Cruz Church, 1220 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ. Interment, on October 11, 2022 at 12:30 p.m., at Holy Hope Cemetery, 3555 N. Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ. Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Yolanda in the Guest Book below. The most recent obituary and service information is available at the Carrillo’s Tucson Mortuary – Tucson website. Published by Legacy on Sep. 21, 2022. Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. Visit our funeral home directory for more local information, or see our FAQ page for help with finding obituaries and sending sympathy. Read More Here

Ukraine War Live Updates: Iran Says It Wants To Revive Nuclear Deal https://digitalarizonanews.com/ukraine-war-live-updates-iran-says-it-wants-to-revive-nuclear-deal/ Live Updates Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of his military in a rare televised address Wednesday. Putin said reservists and ex-military personnel with “certain military specialties and relevant experience” will be subject to conscription “to protect the sovereignty… of Russia.” The move would call up an estimated 300,000 reservists against Ukraine. Ukraine’s forces have made swift advances in a major counteroffensive in the northeast of country recent days, sparking concern in Russia. Russia has already used many reserve units in Ukraine, suffering heavy losses, western analysts say. More reservists and ex-troops are “unlikely to dramatically increase Russian combat power,” according to think tank ISW. In occupied Ukraine, Russia-installed officials in four regions—Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizka in the south—announced referendums from Friday, following steps annexed-Crimea took in 2014. Follow Newsweek’s live blog for the latest updates. Iran Says It Wants to Revive Nuclear Deal President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Iran is interested in reviving the nuclear deal signed in 2015 but needs to know that the U.S. is committed to staying in the deal this time around. The 2015 deal, which was created during former U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration, was in place between the U.S., Iran and other major countries until former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018. The deal was designed to incentivize Iran to stop pursuing the creation and expansion of a nuclear weapons program. U.S. President Joe Biden began efforts to bring Iran back into the deal once he took office, but talks have stalled over the last year. Raisi described America as having “trampled” upon the original deal when the U.S. removed itself four years ago, according to The Associated Press. He said Iran has “a great and serious will to resolve all issues” regarding discussions about reviving the deal but said Iran’s “wish is only one thing: observance of commitments.” Raisi continued to question the U.S.’s commitment to the deal in his speech, doubts he also raised during a recent interview with 60 Minutes. President of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. Mary Altaffer/AP Photo Zelensky Says World Will Not Allow Russia’s Use of Nuclear Weapons Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he does not believe Russia will use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently issued new escalatory rhetoric that he use all means necessary to achieve his goals in Ukraine. Speaking to German media Wednesday, Zelensky said Russia will not be allowed to act on threats with nuclear weapons. “I don’t believe that he will use these weapons,” he said. “I don’t believe that the world will allow him to use these weapons.” Zelensky added that Ukraine and its allies should not give in to Putin’s threats. “Tomorrow, Putin can say, ‘In addition to Ukraine, we also want a part of Poland, otherwise we will use nuclear weapons.’ We cannot agree on such compromises,” he said. Putin also announced Russian will increase mobilization to bolster its armed forces. Zelensky said Russia has already been carrying out mobilization over the past month and notes the low morale among Russian troops. “We already know they mobilized cadets, guys who couldn’t fight,” he said. “These cadets have fallen. They couldn’t even finish their training. All these people cannot fight. They have come to us and died.” Zelensky said Putin needs “an army of millions” because many of his troops who meet Ukrainian forces on the battlefield “just run away.” He added that Putin “wants to drown Ukraine in blood, also the blood of his own soldiers.” Zelensky’s adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons show the Kremlin has “not yet understood who he is dealing with.” Threatening with nuclear weapons… to Ukrainians? Putin have not yet understood who he is dealing with. — Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) September 21, 2022 Biden Calls on Nations to Stop ‘Hoarding’ Grain President Joe Biden called on nations to pull back from food export bans and to stop “hoarding” grain as food security remains a concern around the world. “We’re calling on all countries to refrain from banning food exports or hoarding grain while so many people are suffering,” Biden said Wednesday during a speech before the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. “Because in every country in the world, no matter what else divides us, if parents cannot feed their children, nothing—nothing else matters.” Biden said the U.S. believes “strongly in the need to feed the world.” He mentioned the U.S. is the “world’s largest supporter” of the World Food Program and that it also supports UNICEF in the agency’s efforts to provide food to children in need. The U.S. recently introduced a “roadmap” to strengthen food security, which Biden said already has support from more than 100 nations. During a summer meeting, he said the G7 said it would invest more than $4.5 billion in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Feed the Future initiative. The initiative’s website said it aims to address “the root causes of poverty and hunger” in poorer countries around the world. Biden also announced during his speech that the U.S. will be investing an additional $2.9 billion to “address global food insecurity,” an amount that stands in addition to $6.9 billion the U.S. announced earlier this year. Biden Says Nuclear War ‘Cannot Be Won’ President Joe Biden told the United Nations General Assembly that a nuclear war “cannot be won and must never be fought.” Speaking before the assembly’s 77th Session in New York on Wednesday, Biden encouraged “every nation” to “recommit to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime through diplomacy.” That commitment is “one of the greatest successes” of the UN General Assembly, Biden said. Biden said permanent members of the security council recently recommitted to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) but that “disturbing trends” are now emerging. He cited Russia as his first example amid concerns of nuclear weapons dangers during Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. “Russia shunned the non-proliferation ideals embraced by every other nation at the tenth NPT review conference,” Biden said, referring to a meeting that took place last month. “And again today, as I said, they’re making irresponsible nuclear threats to use nuclear weapons.” Biden also listed China, North Korea and Iran as nations that he said are demonstrating “disturbing trends” in regards to nuclear weapons activity. China is “conducting an unprecedented, concerning nuclear buildup without any transparency” and North Korea “continues to blatantly violate UN sanctions,” Biden said. Meanwhile, the president said the U.S. is clear on its position on Iran: “We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said. “I continue to believe diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome,” Biden said. Biden Pledges Nearly $3 Billion to Fight Global Food Insecurity President Biden announced nearly $3 billion in additional assistance to address global food insecurity. The White House said the additional $2.9 billion in global humanitarian assistance, through USAID, will be given to “help save lives in countries facing food security crises, including through food and nutrition assistance, health care, safe drinking water, protection for the most vulnerable, and other vital relief.” This funding will increase food security programming in countries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, inflated food prices and the supply chain constraints as a result of the war in Ukraine. This adds to the already $6.9 billion the U.S. government pledged to support food security around the world this year. NOW: At #UNGA @POTUS announced $2 billion in humanitarian aid to address global food needs. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, through @USAID and @StatePRM has provided $8.4 billion to scale up emergency food operations and help countries impacted by the food security crisis. pic.twitter.com/OMRfpLaA5U — USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (@USAIDSavesLives) September 21, 2022 During his address at the United Nations General Assembly, Biden blamed the global food crisis on Russia. He said Russia is “pumping out lies” that the sanctions imposed on the Kremlin by the United States and its allies were leading to the crisis. “Russia…is pumping out lies, trying to pin the blame for the crisis — the food crisis — on the sanctions imposed by many in the world for the aggression against Ukraine,” Biden said. “So let me be perfectly clear about something: Our sanctions explicitly allow, explicitly allow, Russia the ability to export food and fertilizer. No limitation.” Biden added that “Russia’s war” is worsening food insecurity and “only Russia can end it.” ‘It is Russia’s war that is worsening food insecurity’ — Pres. Biden shut down ‘lies’ from Russia claiming that sanctions are to blame for the global food crisis pic.twitter.com/X6vx6WfUfR — NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 21, 2022 Biden Says Russia Was the Only Nation to Seek Conflict President Joe Biden blasts Russia’s claim that it was threatened to justify its actions in Ukraine. “Putin claims he had to act because Russia was threatened, but no one threatened Russia and no one other than Russia sought conflict,” he said during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. He said the dozens of nations part of t...

EXHUMED Streams Disgusting Little Ditty “Carbonized” https://digitalarizonanews.com/exhumed-streams-disgusting-little-ditty-carbonized/ Exhumed is back with yet another gross song, this time in the form of “Carbonized.” Though given Exhumed‘s entire career and generally untouchable penchant for writing gory, grinding music, is anyone surprised this song rules? “For me, the most exciting thing about To the Dead is that it’s the most collaborative record we’ve ever done. Our own six-string slime-slinger Sebastian Phillips disgorged the riffs for ‘Carbonized,’ the disgusting little ditty we’ve selected as the second single from the album,” said frontman Matt Harvey. “Then Ross, Mike and I worked out the lyrics, so this ode to cerebral incineration is truly a group effort (which takes some of the blame away from yours truly if you guys hate it!). For the optimal carbonizing experience, turn out the lights, crank up the volume, spark a bowl, and this tune will vaporize what’s left of your senses and sanity!” Exhumed will release To The Dead on October 21. Pre-orders are available here. Exhumed will also hit the road with Hulder and Vitrol this November, along with Molder and Castrator as support. Get those dates below. w/ Molder 11/10 Portland, OR @ Dante’s 11/11 Seattle, WA @ Substation 11/12 Boise, ID @ The Shredder 11/13 Salt Lake City, UT @ Ace’s High Saloon 11/14 Denver, CO @ HQ 11/16 Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge 11/17 Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s 11/18 Chicago, IL @ Reggies 11/19 Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi 11/20 Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary 11/21 Cincinnati, OH @ Legends 11/22 Cleveland, OH @ No Class w/ Castrator 11/23 Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo 11/25 Boston, MA @ Sonia 11/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas 11/27 Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 11/29 Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery 11/30 Norfolk, VA @ Norfolk Taphouse 12/01 Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern 12/02 Atlanta, GA @ Bogg’s 12/03 Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub 12/04 Tampa, FL @ Brass Mug 12/07 Houston, TX @ White Oak 12/08 Austin, TX @ Come and Take it Live 12/09 Dallas, TX @ Amplified 12/10 San Antonio, TX @ Rock Box 12/12 Albuquerque, NM @ The Launchpad 12/13 Mesa, AZ @ Nile Underground 12/14 San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 12/15 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation 12/16 Los Angeles, CA @ Don Quixote 12/17 Oakland, CA @ Eli’s Mile High Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter Enter your e-mail below to get a daily update with all of our headlines. Read More Here

Avondale Salon Owner Accused In Double Murder Found Dead In Jail Cell, Deputies Say https://digitalarizonanews.com/avondale-salon-owner-accused-in-double-murder-found-dead-in-jail-cell-deputies-say/ PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the Avondale salon owner accused of killing his wife and her suspected lover appears to have taken his own life in a Phoenix jail cell. According to deputies, detention officers found Jose Jesus Rodriguez Parra unresponsive in his jail cell around 7 a.m. on Monday. Correctional staff tried to perform CPR but efforts were unsuccessful. Phoenix firefighters arrived and pronounced him dead seven minutes later. No other information has been released, but investigators are treating the death as a suicide. MCSO’s jail crime detectives and MCSO’s professional standards bureau are now investigating, which is standard procedure for in-custody deaths. Parra was accused of shooting his wife, Ema Maldonado, and another man at the Ema’s Barber and Beauty Salon near Central Avenue and Western Avenue on Sept. 11. Court documents revealed Parra admitted to the shooting and it appeared to have resulted from flirting between the two victims that began several months earlier. He had been booked on two counts of second-degree murder, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of aggravated assault. The second man’s name has not been released. A fundraiser for Maldonado has raised nearly $6,000 as of Wednesday morning, according to the family’s GoFundMe page. Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved. Read More…

Watch Live: New York AG Letitia James Files Lawsuit Against Trump, His 3 Kids And Company (Video) – Social News XYZ https://digitalarizonanews.com/watch-live-new-york-ag-letitia-james-files-lawsuit-against-trump-his-3-kids-and-company-video-social-news-xyz/ Posted By: Social News XYZ September 21, 2022 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced her office is filing a civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, his three adult children and family business, accusing them of profiting from a “staggering” fraud. CBS News Streaming Network is the premier 24/7 anchored streaming news service from CBS News and Stations, available free to everyone with access to the Internet. The CBS News Streaming Network is your destination for breaking news, live events and original reporting locally, nationally and around the globe. Launched in November 2014 as CBSN, the CBS News Streaming Network is available live in 91 countries and on 30 digital platforms and apps, as well as on CBSNews.com and Paramount+. Subscribe to the CBS News YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/cbsnews Watch CBS News: http://cbsn.ws/1PlLpZ7c Download the CBS News app: http://cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8 Follow CBS News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbsnews/ Like CBS News on Facebook: http://facebook.com/cbsnews Follow CBS News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbsnews Subscribe to our newsletters: http://cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T Try Paramount+ free: https://bit.ly/2OiW1kZ For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com About SocialNewsXYZ An Indo-American News website. It covers Gossips, Politics, Movies, Technolgy, and Sports News and Photo Galleries and Live Coverage of Events via Youtube. The website is established in 2015 and is owned by AGK FIRE INC. Summary Title Watch Live: New York AG Letitia James files lawsuit against Trump, his 3 kids and company (Video) Description New York Attorney General Letitia James announced her office is filing a civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, his three adult children and family business, accusing them of profiting from a “staggering” fraud. CBS News Streaming Network is the premier 24/7 anchored streaming news service from CBS News and Stations, available free to everyone with access to the Internet. The CBS News Streaming Network is your destination for breaking news, live events and original reporting locally, nationally and around the globe. Launched in November 2014 as CBSN, the CBS News Streaming Network is available live in 91 countries and on 30 digital platforms and apps, as well as on CBSNews.com and Paramount+. Subscribe to the CBS News YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/cbsnews Watch CBS News: http://cbsn.ws/1PlLpZ7c Download the CBS News app: http://cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8 Follow CBS News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbsnews/ Like CBS News on Facebook: http://facebook.com/cbsnews Follow CBS News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbsnews Subscribe to our newsletters: http://cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T Try Paramount+ free: https://bit.ly/2OiW1kZ For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com Read More Here

New York A.G. Sues Trump And His Adult Children For Business Fraud https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-york-a-g-sues-trump-and-his-adult-children-for-business-fraud/ New York State Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday announced she is suing former President Donald Trump and three of his children for fraud stemming from her long-running civil investigation into the Trump Organization’s business dealings. “I am announcing today that we are filing a lawsuit against Donald Trump for violating the law as part of his efforts to generate profits for himself, his family and his company,” James said. “The complaint demonstrates that Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to unjustly enrich himself and to cheat the system, thereby cheating all of us.” James said her office interviewed 65 witnesses and reviewed millions of documents as part of its investigation. In addition to Trump, the additional defendants named in the lawsuit include his three eldest children (Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka) as well as former Trump Organization executives Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney. “Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization repeatedly and persistently manipulated the value of assets to induce banks to lend money to the Trump Organization on more favorable terms than otherwise would have been available to the country, to pay lower taxes, to satisfy continuing loan agreements and to induce insurance companies to provide insurance coverage at higher limits and at lower premiums,” James said at during the Wednesday morning remarks. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference in July 2022 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) An October 2018 report in the New York Times found that Trump had participated in a series of tax schemes related to his father’s real estate empire. In 2019, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen discussed these business tactics during testimony with the House Oversight Committee. Trump attended a deposition with James’ office last month in Manhattan, where he declined to answer questions, using his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In a statement, Trump said he “declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution” and attacked James for what he called a “despicable attempt” to bring down his company. Former President Donald Trump is seen at a Save America Rally last weekend in Youngstown to support Republican candidates running for state and federal offices in Ohio. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) James told a judge in January that Trump’s son Eric invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 500 times in an October 2020 deposition. The former president’s other children Donald Jr. and Ivanka, however, reportedly testified in James’s probe in early August and did not invoke the Fifth Amendment. The former president is still dealing with a federal investigation into his mishandling of classified documents, which led to the FBI raid on his Florida home last month. Trump is also still under scrutiny for his role in the violence of Jan. 6, 2021, which is being investigated by the Justice Department and a House committee. Additionally, a Georgia district attorney is investigating his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, which voted for Joe Biden. Read More Here

New York Attorney General Suing Trump, His 3 Children https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-york-attorney-general-suing-trump-his-3-children/ New York attorney general suing Trump, his 3 children  WNWO NBC 24 Read More Here

Autopsy Reveals Country Music Star's Cause Of Death https://digitalarizonanews.com/autopsy-reveals-country-music-stars-cause-of-death/ The Pima County Medical Examiner report says fentanyl intoxication was the cause of the country musician’s death. By: Bivian Contreras Posted at 8:33 AM, Sep 21, 2022 and last updated 2022-09-21 11:33:05-04 TUCSON, AZ — The Pima County Medical Examiner’s office has released the autopsy report for country music performer Luke Bell, who passed away in Tucson at the age of 32 on Friday, Aug. 26. According to the medical examiner, Bell died from fentanyl intoxication. Concern and reports began circulating on social media prior to Bell’s death that he had gone ‘missing’ in Tucson. A passerby found him unresponsive in a shaded area of a parking lot near North Craycroft and East Grant roads. Bell’s family released a statement a few days after his death stating that he suffered from bi-polar disorder. Drug paraphernalia was found at the scene of his death. RELATED: Country music star Luke Bell found dead in Tucson Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More Here

Biden Tells The United Nations That Putin's Attempts To 'extinguish' Ukraine Should 'make Your Blood Run Cold' | CNN Politics https://digitalarizonanews.com/biden-tells-the-united-nations-that-putins-attempts-to-extinguish-ukraine-should-make-your-blood-run-cold-cnn-politics/ New York CNN  —  President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a harsh rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech at the United Nations, saying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “shamelessly violates” the UN charter and declaring atrocities in Ukraine “should make your blood run cold.” “Putin claims he had to act because Russia was threatened, but no one threatened Russia and no one other than Russia sought conflict,” Biden said in his speech. Biden returned to the green-marbled United Nations stage Wednesday hours after Russia’s president announced in a provocative speech an escalation in his war effort in Ukraine, setting up a rhetorical showdown between the two leaders on the international stage. Biden had already planned to make the Ukraine war a centerpiece of his yearly UN address, with aides previewing a harsh message for Moscow. But Putin’s announcement that he is ordering a “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens in the Ukraine war and again raising the specter of using nuclear weapons dramatically increases the stakes for Biden’s address. In his 20-minute speech, Putin warned he would use “all the means at our disposal” if he deemed the “territorial integrity” of Russia to be jeopardized. The mobilization means citizens who are in the reserve could be called up, and those with military experience would be subject to conscription, Putin said, adding that the necessary decree had already been signed and took effect on Wednesday. In response, Biden said Putin was waging a war meant to demolish the Ukrainian nation. “This war is about extinguish Ukraine’s right to exist as a state, plain and simple, Ukraine’s right to exist as a people. Wherever you are, whatever you believe, that should … make your blood run cold,” Biden said. He warned that the basis of the United Nations’ charter is “under attack” amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, which he cast as a “shameless” violation of the body’s founding document. “As we meet today, the UN charter’s very basis of a stable and just rule-based order is under attack by those who wish to tear it down or distort it for their own political advantage,” Biden said during remarks to the UN General Assembly in a veiled reference to Russia, noting that the 1945 charter was negotiated by citizens “united in their commitment to work for peace.” He called on the institution to “become more inclusive” to “better respond to the needs of today’s world”, telling the group that the US supports increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent representatives on the UN Security Council. Putin’s escalation came after stunning Russian setbacks in the war, which has dragged on for more than six months. Biden, who has led efforts to isolate Russia and supply Ukraine with advanced weaponry, had been planning to underscore those efforts in Wednesday’s speech. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also planned to address the UN on Wednesday. Still, the Russian leader’s pugilistic speech hours ahead of Biden’s address dramatically illustrated the challenges that lie ahead. The combined effects of the prolonged conflict and economic uncertainty have created a dark mood among world leaders gathering in New York this week for the annual high-level UN meetings. After making his debut UN address last year under the cloud of a messy Afghanistan withdrawal and stalled domestic ambitions, Biden’s aides believe he enters his sophomore outing with a stronger hand. “We believe that the President heads to New York with the wind at his back,” Sullivan told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, citing a mostly-united western alliance and recent wins on the domestic front, including a historic investment in fighting climate change. Still, even as Biden proclaims renewed US leadership, deeper questions persist over his ability to maintain that position in the years ahead, as fears of a global recession looms and threats to American democracy fester. Biden has spent ample time underscoring those threats in recent weeks, primarily for a domestic audience but with foreign capitals also listening intently. He has recounted in recent speeches sitting around a table at last year’s Group of 7 summit in Cornwall, England, telling fellow leaders that “America is back.” French President Emmanuel Macron, Biden has told audiences, asked him: “For how long?” That question still hangs over Biden’s efforts on the world stage, even a year-and-a-half into his term, as his predecessor continues to wield influence over the Republican Party and prepares to mount another run for the White House. Biden himself said in an interview that aired Sunday that while he intends to run for reelection, a final decision “remains to be seen.” One of the issues currently at the forefront of global affairs – the pained negotiations to restart the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew – only underscores the effects of pendulum swings in American leadership. For Biden, the yearly UN speech was another stab at explaining to the world how he has steered the United States back into a position of leadership after the “America First” years of Donald Trump. He called for expanding the United Nations Security Council, saying countries should refrain from using their veto powers except in rare circumstances. “The United States supports increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent” Security Council members, Biden said in his speech. He said constant vetoes from countries on the Council were harming its effectiveness, and said only using vetoes in “rare, extraordinary situations” would ensure the council “remains credible and effective.” Russia has consistently vetoed resolutions at the Security Council that have blocked action on Ukraine and other areas. In his speech, Biden also announced $2.9 billion in US assistance to help address global food insecurity. The $2.9 billion investment, the White House said in a fact sheet, is aimed at shoring up food supply amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, widespread inflation and other supply chain issues, and builds on $6.9 billion already committed by the US this year. It includes $2 billion in global humanitarian assistance through USAID, the US Agency for International Development. Later Wednesday morning, Biden will host a pledging session for the Global Fund to Fight HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In the evening, Biden and the first lady will host a leaders’ reception at the American Museum of Natural History. Biden and his aides have been drafting the address for several weeks, a period that coincided with Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive taking back some Russian-held territory after months of occupation. The initiative had been coordinated with American officials, including through enhanced information and intelligence sharing, and sustained by weaponry provided by the US and its allies. US officials have cautioned Ukraine’s current gains don’t necessarily signal a wider change in the outlook of the war, which remains likely to be a prolonged conflict. A day ahead of Biden’s speech, two Russian-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine announced plans for referendums on officially joining Russia, votes the US has previously warned would be “shams.” One of Biden’s objectives in his speech Wednesday is stressing the importance of maintaining unity among western allies in supporting Ukraine in the uncertain months ahead. That effort is made more difficult by a looming energy crisis as Russia withholds supplies of natural gas to Europe as winter sets in. Higher costs spurred in part by withering western sanctions on Moscow have led to an economic calamity that is causing political turmoil for many leaders in Biden’s coalition, including himself. The President meets with one of those leaders, British Prime Minister Liz Truss, later Wednesday. It will be their first formal in-person talks since Truss entered office earlier this month following the decision of her predecessor, Boris Johnson, to step down. She inherited a deep economic crisis, fueled by high inflation and soaring energy costs, that has led to fears the UK could soon enter a prolonged recession. While few in the Biden administration shed tears at Johnson’s resignation – Biden once described him as the “physical and emotional clone” of Trump – the US and the UK were deeply aligned in their approach to Russia under his leadership. White House officials expect that cooperation will continue under Truss, even as she comes under pressure to ease economic pressures at home. Less certain, however, is whether Truss’s hardline approach to Brexit will sour relations with Biden. The President has taken a personal interest in the particular issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol, a post-Brexit arrangement that requires extra checks on goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The rules were designed to keep the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland open and avoid a return to sectarian violence. But Truss has moved to rewrite those rules, causing deep anxiety in both Brussels and Washington. Putin is not attending this year’s general assembly, though his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is in New York for the event. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also not planning to attend the UN in person this year. The two autocratic leaders, who met in-person last week, have deepened ties between their countries as relations with the west deteriorate. Biden has warned Xi against supporting Putin in his invasion of Ukraine, a theme he’s expected to reiterate in Wednesday’s speech. Putin and Xi’s absence underscores the limits of venues like the UN to resolve the world’s most serious p...

Billy Corgan Is Debuting Unreleased Smashing Pumpkins Songs On His New IHeartRadio Podcast 'Thirty-Three' | IHeart https://digitalarizonanews.com/billy-corgan-is-debuting-unreleased-smashing-pumpkins-songs-on-his-new-iheartradio-podcast-thirty-three-iheart/ After more than a year of teasing, Smashing Pumpkins officially announced their epic 33-track album ATUM (pronounced “autumn”). The band plans to release the three-part rock opera in an unconventional way: in three 11-track acts released digitally. Act 1 is slate for November 15; Act 2 on January 31, 2023, and Act 3 along with a special edition boxset featuring all 33 album tracks plus 10 additional unreleased songs, will be released on April 21, 2023. But fans will be able to hear the tracks before even those dates. Frontman Billy Corgan has announced a new podcast series called Thirty-Three with William Patrick Corgan. The iHeartRadio co-produced series will debut each of the new tracks and give fans insight into each of them. In addition to new music, each episode will also boast Smashing Pumpkins history and a classic track, as well as special guests. The first episode, about the title track, features David Bowie‘s longtime pianist Mike Garson, and the second episode, “Butterfly Suite,” features sound engineer/producer Tommy Lipnick. ATUM is the conceptual sequel to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina/The Machine of God. Listen to the first two episodes of Thirty-Three with William Patrick Corgan above. Smashing Pumpkins also officially released the album’s lead single, “Beguiled,” which you can hear below. Smashing Pumpkins plan to hit the road with Jane’s Addiction next month. See a full list of tour dates below. Smashing Pumpkins & Jane’s Addiction Spirits on Fire tour dates 10/02 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX** 10/03 – Toyota Center – Houston, TX** 10/05 – Moody Center – Austin, TX** 10/07 – Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL** 10/08 – Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood, FL** 10/10 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN** 10/11 – State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA** 10/13 – Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, CT** 10/14 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY** 10/16 – TD Garden – Boston, MA** 10/18 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC** 10/19 – Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY** 10/21 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA** 10/22 – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA*^ 10/24 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON** 10/26 – Bell Center – Montreal, QC** 10/27 – Centre Videotron – Quebec City, QC** 10/29 – Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse – Cleveland, OH*^ 10/30 – Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, WI** 11/01 – Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO** 11/02 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI** 11/04 – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN** 11/05 – United Center – Chicago, IL** 11/07 – Ball Arena – Denver, CO** 11/09 – Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA** 11/11 – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC** 11/12 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA** 11/13 – Moda Center – Portland, OR** 11/15 – Chase Center – San Francisco, CA** 11/16 – Honda Center – Anaheim, CA** 11/18 – Footprint Center – Phoenix, AZ** 11/19 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA** ** with guests Jane’s Addiction + opener Poppy *^ with guests Jane’s Addiction + opener Meg Myers Read More…

Scottsdale Close To Revealing Its Revamped Civic Center https://digitalarizonanews.com/scottsdale-close-to-revealing-its-revamped-civic-center/ The city of Scottsdale is close to unveiling its revamped civic center area. Jen Wahl has more on the renovations expected to be completed by January 2023. Author: 12news.com Published: 8:20 AM MST September 21, 2022 Updated: 8:20 AM MST September 21, 2022 Read More Here

Watch: New York AG Letitia James Announces Lawsuit Of Donald Trump, His Company And Family Members Over Fraud Claims https://digitalarizonanews.com/watch-new-york-ag-letitia-james-announces-lawsuit-of-donald-trump-his-company-and-family-members-over-fraud-claims/ [The stream is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has been conducting a civil investigation of former President Donald Trump‘s company, is announcing a major lawsuit of former President Donald Trump, three of his adult children and his company over widespread fraud claims. James’ announcement comes nearly a week after The New York Times reported that she had rejected an offer from Trump’s lawyers to settle her probe of the Trump Organization, which is based in Manhattan. James’ office was investigating the company for possibly fraudulently misstating the value of various real estate assets to receive financial benefits in the form of more favorable loan and insurance rates, and tax breaks. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and accused James, who is a Democrat, of being motivated by politics to investigate the former Republican president. In August, Trump appeared for a deposition conducted by James’s lawyers. He invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 440 times in refusing to answer questions under oath. Donald Trump Jr., who runs the Trump Organization with his brother Eric, answered questions from the investigators under oath earlier in August, as did their sister Ivanka Trump. Ivanka previously was an executive at the Trump Organization. Eric Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 500 times when he was questioned under oath in the probe in October 2020, according to a court filing in January. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.  Read More Here

Dollar Soars To Two-Decade High As Putin Shakes FX Market Ahead Of Fed https://digitalarizonanews.com/dollar-soars-to-two-decade-high-as-putin-shakes-fx-market-ahead-of-fed/ Woman holds U.S. dollar banknotes in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Dollar index at two-decade high Euro slides back toward two-decade lows Putin announces partial troop mobilization for Ukraine Markets gauging Fed hawkishness in Powell briefing LONDON/NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) – The dollar surged to a new two-decade high on Wednesday just ahead of another expected aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate hike, as investors fled for safety after a decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to mobilize more troops for the conflict in Ukraine. Putin on Wednesday called up 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine and said Moscow would respond with the might of all its vast arsenal if the West pursued what he called its “nuclear blackmail” over the conflict there. read more The news propelled the dollar index, which measures the greenback’s value against six major currencies, to 110.87 =USD, its strongest level since 2002. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The dollar index is up almost 16% this year and set for its biggest annual surge since 1981. It was last trading at 110.71, up about 0.5% on the day. “Most of the dollar moves today are Putin-related,” said Steven Englander, head of global G10 FX research and North America macro strategy at Standard Chartered in New York.. “When I look at my table, the five worst performing currencies are the Swedish crown, Polish zloty, Czech koruna, Hungarian forint and the euro. That’s more a Putin worry because of hints that Russia might escalate the conflict in Ukraine and on what limits he puts on the weapons they use.” Dollar index at two-decade high ahead of Fed European currencies bore the brunt of selling in foreign exchange markets as Putin’s comments exacerbated concern about the economic outlook for a region already hit hard by Russia’s squeeze on gas supplies to Europe. The euro fell to a two-week low of $0.9885 , within sight of two-decade lows touched earlier this month. It was last down 0.7% at $0.9901. Sterling fell to a fresh 37-year low of $1.1304 and was last down 0.5% at $1.1335 Later on Wednesday, the Fed is expected to lift interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point for a third straight time and signal how much further and how fast borrowing costs may need to rise to tame inflation. read more The policy decision, due at 1800 GMT, will mark the latest move in a synchronized policy shift by global central banks that is testing the resilience of the world economy and the ability of countries to manage exchange rate shocks as the value of the dollar soars. “What the market is looking for is whether (Fed Chair Jerome) Powell says the Fed does not know how far they have to go and they’ll go as far as they need to go,” said Standard Chartered’s Englander. “If someone asks him whether he sees rates going to 5% and he says he doesn’t see it, but doesn’t rule it out if that’s needed to get inflation down, then that would be really hawkish and means they’re opening up rates to an even higher range than what the market anticipates.” The Australian and New Zealand dollars meanwhile plumbed multi-year lows. The Aussie dollar hit a trough of US$0.6655, its lowest since June 2020, while the New Zealand currency fell to US$0.5873, its lowest since April 2020. Against the battered yen, the dollar was up 0.2% at 143.97, holding off recent 24-year peaks “It was interesting to me that dollar/yen dipped on the news of the announcement, potentially indicating a return of the yen’s safe-haven credentials which have been absent for much of the year,” said Colin Asher, a senior economist at Mizuho Corporate Bank. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 10:42AM (1442 GMT) Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe in London and Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss in New York; Additional reporting by Lucy Raitano; Editing by Edwina Gibbs, Catherine Evans and Mark Heinrich Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Medical Care Technologies, Inc. Announces Agreement To Acquire Sports Memorabilia Company Infinite Auctions LLC https://digitalarizonanews.com/medical-care-technologies-inc-announces-agreement-to-acquire-sports-memorabilia-company-infinite-auctions-llc/ $26.1 Billion Sports Memorabilia Market Expected to Climb to $200 Billion by 2032 MESA, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2022 / Medical Care Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK:MDCE) today announced that it recently entered into an Agreement to acquire 100% of the membership units of sports memorabilia auction house Infinite Auctions LLC. Founded in 2015, Infinite Auctions provides an online platform for memorabilia collectors and professional athletes to consign and sell high valued collectibles in a secure online auction format. Infinite Auctions specializes in the auctioning of game-worn sports memorabilia, including jerseys, helmets, bats, and other items worn or used by athletes in professional sporting events. Marshall Perkins, the founder of Infinite Auctions, was one of the early pioneers of the photo matching authentication process that is now standard for authenticating high-end sports memorabilia. The company also auctions high-end sports cards, trading cards, fine autographs, Americana, and other valuable antiquities. Infinite Auctions also offers a private sale brokering program that connects sellers and buyers outside of auction for quicker sales. Mr. Marshall Perkins, CEO of Infinite Auctions and new CEO of MDCE, stated, “This business combination should allow us to take full advantage of one of the fastest growing industries in the world. We have some really exciting new growth initiatives lined up and we look forward to sharing them with our shareholders.” Mr. Carey W Cooley, President of MDCE, stated, “This is a major win for our shareholders. Marshall is one of the most passionate, hard-working men I have ever met. He is also one of the most well-respected figures in the high-end sports memorabilia industry. I am excited that our shareholders get to benefit from his deep knowledge and experience in the sports memorabilia space. I really look forward to working with him to create a memorabilia powerhouse.” With this business combination, MDCE enters the $26 billion sports memorabilia market that is expected to climb to $200 billion by 2032. The acquisition is expected to close in early October 2022, at which time Infinite Auctions will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of MDCE. About Medical Care Technologies, Inc. Medical Care Technologies, Inc. seeks to capitalize on the fast-growing memorabilia and collectibles market by consolidating companies in the collectibles space and acquiring high value collectible assets. The company is negotiating multiple joint ventures and developing new platforms to create additional revenue streams from our memorabilia asset portfolio. About Infinite Auctions LLC. Infinite Auctions provides an online platform for memorabilia collectors and professional athletes to consign and sell high valued collectibles in a secure online auction format. Infinite Auctions specializes in the auctioning of game-worn sports memorabilia, including jerseys, helmets, bats, and other items worn or used by athletes in professional sporting events. The company also auctions high-end sports cards, trading cards, fine autographs, Americana, and other valuable antiquities. Infinite Auctions also offers a private sale brokering program that connects sellers and buyers outside of auction for quicker sales. Contact Information: https://twitter.com/SportsAuction1 https://www.infiniteauctions.com https://www.medcaretechinc.com Shareholder/Investor inquiries for Medical Care Technologies, Inc.: Medical Care Technologies, Inc. / Infinite Auctions LLC 1- 480-645-0750 [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement: In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the Company and members of its management team with respect to the Company’s future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse developments with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company’s business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the Company’s website. The Company disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Medical Care Technologies, Inc. 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When Trump Said Nikki Haley Had A 'Complexion Problem' Was He Referring To Her Large Pores Or … https://digitalarizonanews.com/when-trump-said-nikki-haley-had-a-complexion-problem-was-he-referring-to-her-large-pores-or/ New York Times reporter Peter Baker repeatedly returns to the word “mercurial” when describing the deranged subject of his book, The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, which was released this week. In an article last week the doubled as a self-promoting book review and exposé, Baker wrote: The portrait that emerged of Mr. Trump was of a mercurial commander in chief with a retinue that struggled to manage him, baffled by his flights of fancy and fearful that he would launch a war or violate the law long before his drive to overturn the 2020 election led to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. “Mercurial” is an exceptionally polite way of describing a fascist. Baker later writes that “Mr. Trump’s mercurial approach to the presidency so baffled John F. Kelly, his second chief of staff, that Mr. Kelly secretly bought a copy of a best-selling book by a group of psychiatrists questioning Mr. Trump’s mental health.” However, it’s not so much that Trump was subject to sudden and unpredictable mood changes. Unbridled enthusiasm wasn’t his tragic downfall. He was consistently awful. Just imagine the worst way a human might respond to a situation and you could probably predict Trump’s next move. Perhaps the least surprising revelation in The Divider is that Trump’s a gross misogynist and bigot. [Trump] harshly criticized women for their looks, telling visitors that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was an example of why women should be careful about plastic surgery and that he would not pick Nikki Haley, his United Nations ambassador, as a running mate because she had a “complexion problem.” PREVIOUSLY: Jesus, Donald Trump, What The Fuck Is Wrong With You? Trump Don’t Want No Short Short Fed Chairs Trump has publicly criticized women’s appearances, even suggesting that E. Jean Carroll was too ugly to rape. His remarks about former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is perhaps shocking only to those who insist Trump’s not the most racist president who didn’t also own slaves. We assume that Haley’s “complexion” problem wasn’t bad acne but that she’s a brown woman. An unfortunate liberal urban myth is that Haley uses the name “Nikki” instead of “Nimrata” to hide her Indian heritage, but she was actually born with that name, like Madonna but not as cool. “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin repeated that mistake on air this week and Haley was quick to call her “racist” for judging her name. Haley and most of conservative media pointed out that Hostin’s birth name is “Asunción” not “Sunny.” u201cThanks for your concern @Sunny. It’s racist of you to judge my name. nnNikki is an Indian name and is on my birth certificateu2014and I’m proud of that. nnWhat’s sad is the left’s hypocrisy towards conservative minorities. nnBy the way, last I checked Sunny isn’t your birth nameu2026u201d — Nikki Haley (@Nikki Haley) 1663694086 Hostin’s point is probably that minorities choose more anglicized nicknames when attempting to thrive in white-dominated society, but Haley prefers to promote the popular Republican talking point that liberals are racist to conservative minorities. She’ll ride this latest controversy to a few more Fox News appearances, but she’ll likely never acknowledge Trump’s reported comments about her “complexion.” Democrats still high on “West Wing” reruns will argue that Haley is a formidable Republican candidate for president, but I personally doubt she could win a primary in her home state of South Carolina. During the 2016 campaign, when she was still governor, Haley actively campaigned for Marco Rubio. During an event in my home town of Greenville, Rubio shared the stage with Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, and Rep. Trey Gowdy, the lone white guy. Haley told the assembled crowd, “Take of picture of this. Because this new group of conservatives taking over America looks like a Benetton commercial.” Haley, who was already on thin ice after removing the Confederate flag from the state house, thought this was a selling point to Republicans, not just in South Carolina but anywhere. Maybe she was sniffing too much “West Wing.” www.youtube.com The United Colors of Benetton was a fashion company that’s most famous for its ads in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The models in the commercials were diverse, underfed, and somewhat androgynous. A schoolteacher in South Carolina could lose their job if they showed one of those ads in class. It’s laughable in hindsight that Haley would brag about young, diverse conservatives “taking over” the party and implicitly the country itself. Trump’s entire campaign was white backlash to diversity and progress. So, no Nikki Haley will never be president for the same reason Trump reportedly rejected her as vice president. The Republican Party has fully embraced white nationalism, and there’s no place for Haley in a Marjorie Taylor Greene administration. [New York Times] Follow Stephen Robinson on Twitter. Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons. Have you heard that Wonkette DOES NOT EXIST without your donations? Please hear it now, and if you have ever enjoyed a Wonkette article, throw us some bucks, or better yet, SUBSCRIBE! Stephen Robinson Stephen Robinson is a writer and social kibbitzer based in Portland, Oregon. He writes make believe for Cafe Nordo, an immersive theatre space in Seattle. Once, he wrote a novel called “Mahogany Slade,” which you should read or at least buy. He’s also on the board of the Portland Playhouse theatre. His son describes him as a “play typer guy.” Read More Here

Iran's President: US 'trampled Upon' Nuclear Accord https://digitalarizonanews.com/irans-president-us-trampled-upon-nuclear-accord/ UNITED NATIONS — Iran’s president said Wednesday that the U.S. “trampled upon” Tehran’s nuclear accord with world powers in a speech to world leaders at the United Nations. Ebrahim Raisi addressed the U.N. General Assembly as talks to revive the nuclear deal approached a take-it-or-leave-it moment. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the deal in 2018 has led Tehran to abandon over time every limitation the accord imposed on its nuclear enrichment. European Union officials have warned the window for securing a deal is about to close. The 2015 agreement that was brokered under the Obama administration placed curbs on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief, which Tehran insists it has never received. “America trampled upon the nuclear accord,” said Raisi, who was sworn-in as president only a year ago. His speech marks the first time he has taken the podium at the U.N. in his role as president. Last year, he delivered remarks to the assembly virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2019, Raisi was sanctioned by the United States in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988, a little over a decade after the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the country’s shah and ushered in its current theocratic-led system. ___ Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Joseph Krauss contributed to this report. ___ For more AP coverage of the U.N. General Assembly, visit https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly Read More Here