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  • Biden, Kenyan leader urging help to lessen crushing debt on developing nations

    Biden, Kenyan leader urging help to lessen crushing debt on developing nations

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    WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday expressed deep appreciation to Kenyan President William Ruto for the coming deployment of Kenyan police forces to help quell gang violence in Haiti and he defended his decision to withhold American forces from the mission in the beleaguered Caribbean nation.

    The United States has agreed to contribute $300 million to a multinational force that will include 1,000 Kenyan police officers, but Biden argued that an American troop presence in Haiti would raise “all kinds of questions that can easily be misrepresented.”

    The Democrat came into office in 2021 pledging to end U.S. involvement in so-called endless wars in the aftermath of 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

    “Haiti is in an area of the Caribbean that is a very volatile,” Biden said at a news conference with Ruto, who was in Washington for the first state visit to the U.S. by an African leader since 2008. “There’s a lot going on in this hemisphere. So we’re in a situation where we want to do all we can without us looking like America once again is stepping over and deciding this is what must be done.”

    Ruto, who will be honored by Biden with a state dinner on the White House grounds in the evening, also gave a climate policy address and met with former President Barack Obama.

    Ruto is facing legal challenges in Nairobi over the decision to commit Kenyan forces to a conflict thousands of miles from home when his own country has no shortage of economic and security challenges. He said that Kenya, as a democracy, has a duty to help.

    “Kenya believes that the responsibility of peace and security anywhere in the world, including in Haiti, is the collective responsibility of all nations and all people who believe in freedom, self-determination, democracy and justice,” Ruto said. “And it is the reason why Kenya took up this responsibility.”

    Some analysts say his move could run afoul of a Kenyan High Court ruling in January that found the deployment unconstitutional because of a lack of reciprocal agreements between Kenya and Haiti. A deal was signed in March, before Ariel Henry resigned as Haiti’s prime minister, to try to salvage the plan.

    Kenya’s moving ahead “gives the impression that the country is lawless and does not believe in the rule of law,” said Macharia Munene, an international relations professor at United States International University-Africa.

    A difficult assignment is ahead for the Kenyan officers.

    Haiti has endured poverty, political instability and natural disasters for decades. International intervention in Haiti has a complicated history. A U.N.-approved stabilization mission to Haiti that started in June 2004 was marred by a sexual abuse scandal and the introduction of cholera, which killed nearly 10,000 people. The mission ended in October 2017.

    Biden and Ruto also called on economies around the globe to take action to reduce the enormous debt burden crushing Kenya and other developing nations.

    The call to action, termed the Nairobi-Washington Vision, comes as Biden presses his appeal to African nations that the U.S. can be a better partner than economic rival China. Beijing has been deepening its investment on the continent — often with high-interest loans and other difficult financing terms.

    Biden and Ruto want creditor nations to reduce financing barriers for developing nations that have been constrained by high debt burdens. They also called on international financial institutions to coordinate debt relief and support through multilateral banks and institutions providing better financing terms.

    The White House announced $250 million in grants for the International Development Association, part of the World Bank, to assist poor countries facing crises.

    Separately, a $1.2 trillion government funding bill passed by Congress in March allows the U.S. to lend up to $21 billion to an International Monetary Fund trust that provides zero-interest loans to support low-income countries.

    “Too many nations are forced to make a choice between development and debt, between investing in their people and paying back their creditors,” Biden said.

    An Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China — including Kenya — found the debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of tax revenue needed to keep schools open, provide electricity and pay for food and fuel.

    Behind the scenes is China’s reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help.

    Kenya’s debt-to-GDP ratio tops 70%, with the bulk of it owed to China. Credit ratings agency Fitch estimates the Kenya will spend almost one-third of its government revenues just on interest payments this year.

    The Biden administration has praised Kenya for stepping up in Haiti when so few other countries have agreed to do so. Biden also announced his intention to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, an acknowledgment of the growing security partnership between the countries.

    The designation, while largely symbolic, reflects how Kenya has grown from a regional partner that has long cooperated with U.S. counterterrorism operations on the continent to a major global influence — even extending its reach into the Western Hemisphere. Kenya will be the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the status.

    Ruto arrived in Washington on Wednesday and began the visit by meeting with Biden and tech executives from Silicon Valley and Kenya’s growing tech sector.

    The White House announced it was working with Congress to make Kenya the first country in Africa to benefit from funding through the CHIPS and Science Act, a 2022 law that aims to reinvigorate the computer chip sector within the United States through tens of billions of dollars in targeted government support.

    “I think we have a historic moment to explore investment opportunities between Kenya and the United States,” Ruto said.

    Despite the optimistic outlook, Kenya has seen a sharp decline in foreign investment since 2017. Net investment for foreign companies has fallen from $1.35 billion in 2017 to $394 million in 2022, according to the World Bank.

    —

    Associated Press writers Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, and Josh Boak and Sagar Meghani contributed to this report.

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  • Bike Gang Members Arrested for Ian Ziering’s New Year’s Eve Attack

    Bike Gang Members Arrested for Ian Ziering’s New Year’s Eve Attack

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    Two bike gang members have been arrested several months after Ian Ziering was attacked in Los Angeles.

    The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement on Tuesday, May 21, which confirmed that warrants were served to two individuals “responsible for an assault and vandalism of a motorist on Hollywood Boulevard.” Jacob Esteban Hernandez and Angie Teresa Guizar were taken into custody in connection to a public fight that took place in December 2023.

    “A victim was involved in a physical altercation with four to five members of a minibike gang on the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard within the Hollywood Entertainment District,” their statement continued. “The confrontation began between the victim and one of the minibike riders over possible damage to his vehicle. Three to four additional minibike riders jumped in and assaulted the motorist.”

    The news release noted that one of the minibike riders was “captured swinging an object at the victim, nearly striking him.” There was also mention of Ziering’s 13-year-old daughter, who was present when the brawl took place.

    “The victim and his child did not sustain any serious injuries,” the release stated.

    Hernandez was booked for “felony vandalism,” while Guizar is facing a charge of “assault with a deadly weapon.” The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for consideration. Ziering, 60, has yet to publicly address the update in the case.

    In a video obtained by TMZ of the December 2023 incident, the actor was seen exiting his vehicle on Hollywood Boulevard before approaching a group of bikers, seemingly reacting to his car being hit. Ziering pushed one person and was subsequently chased down by several other bikers and shoved into a parked car.


    Ian Ziering     CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images

    In another video, Ziering was seen hugging his daughter Mia after the altercation. (He shares Mia and daughter Penna, 11, with ex-wife Erin Ludwig.)

    Ziering broke his silence on the attack in January with a lengthy social media statement.

    “Yesterday, I experienced an alarming incident involving a group of individuals on mini bikes,” he wrote via Instagram. “While stuck in traffic, my car was approached aggressively by one of these riders leading to an unsettling confrontation. In an attempt to assess any damage I exited my car. This action, unfortunately, escalated into a physical altercation, which I navigated to protect myself.”

    Ziering reassured fans that he and his daughter were unharmed. “I am relieved to report that my daughter and I are both completely unscathed, but the incident has left me deeply concerned about the growing boldness of such groups who disrupt public safety and peace,” he continued. “This situation highlights a larger issue of hooliganism on our streets and the need for effective law enforcement responses to such behavior. As a citizen and a parent, I find it unacceptable that groups can freely engage in this kind of behavior, causing fear and chaos, while the response from authorities seems insufficient.”

    At the time, Ziering said he was hoping for “decisive action” from the police, writing, “I have always been an advocate for standing up against intimidation and misconduct, and this incident reinforces my belief in the importance of personal and community safety. We must address the underlying issues that lead to such disruptive behavior and ensure that our streets are safe for everyone. I urge city officials and law enforcement to take decisive action against such lawlessness and provide the necessary resources to prevent future occurrences.”

    He concluded: “I am thankful for the support of my family, friends, and fans during this time. It’s in challenging moments like these that the strength and unity of our community are most vital. Happy new year.”

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  • Penn State Scandal Fast Facts | CNN

    Penn State Scandal Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the Penn State sexual abuse scandal. On November 4, 2011, a grand jury report was released containing testimony that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky sexually abused eight young boys over a period of at least 15 years. Officials at Penn State purportedly failed to notify law enforcement after learning about some of these incidents. On December 7, 2011, the number of victims increased to 10. Sandusky was found guilty in 2012.

    Included is a timeline of accusations, lists of the charges against Sandusky, a list of involved parties, a post grand jury report timeline, information about The Second Mile charity and Sandusky with links to the grand jury investigation.

    Jerry Sandusky

    Birth date: January 26, 1944

    Birth place: Washington, Pennsylvania

    Birth name: Gerald Arthur Sandusky

    Marriage: Dorothy “Dottie” (Gross) Sandusky (1966-present)

    Children: (all adopted) E.J., Kara, Jon, Jeff, Ray and Matt. The Sanduskys also fostered several children.

    Occupation: Assistant football coach at Penn State for 32 years before his retirement, including 23 years as defensive coordinator.

    Initially founded by Sandusky in 1977 as a group foster home for troubled boys, but grew into a non-profit organization that “helps young people to achieve their potential as individuals and community members.”

    May 25, 2012 – The Second Mile requests court approval in Centre County, Pennsylvania, to transfer its programs to Arrow Child & Family Ministries and shut down.

    August 27, 2012 – The Second Mile requests a stay in their petition to transfer its programs to Arrow Child & Family Ministries saying, “this action will allow any pending or future claims filed by Sandusky’s victims to be resolved before key programs or assets are considered for transfer.”

    March 2016 – After years of dismantling and distributing assets to Arrow Child & Family Ministries and any remaining funds to the Pennsylvania Attorney General to hold in escrow, the organization is dissolved.

    Source: Grand Jury Report

    1994-1997 – Sandusky engages in inappropriate conduct with different boys he met separately through The Second Mile program.

    1998 – Penn State police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare investigate an incident in which the mother of an 11-year-old boy reported that Sandusky showered with her son.

    1998 – Psychologist Alycia Chambers tells Penn State police that Sandusky acted the way a pedophile might in her assessment of a case in which the mother of a young boy reported that Sandusky showered with her son and may have had inappropriate contact with him. A second psychologist, John Seasock, reported he found no indication of child abuse.

    June 1, 1998 – In an interview, Sandusky admits to showering naked with the boy, saying it was wrong and promising not to do it again. The district attorney advises investigators that no charges will be filed, and the university police chief instructs that the case be closed.

    June 1999 – Sandusky retires from Penn State after coaching there for 32 years, but receives emeritus status, with full access to the campus and football facilities.

    2000 – James Calhoun, a janitor at Penn State, tells his supervisor and another janitor that he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a young boy in the Lasch Building showers. No one reports the incident to university officials or law enforcement.

    March 2, 2002 – Graduate Assistant Mike McQueary tells Coach Joe Paterno that on March 1, he witnessed Sandusky sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in the Lasch Building showers. On May 7, 2012, prosecutors file court documents to change the date of the assault to on or around February 9, 2001.

    March 3, 2002 – Paterno reports the incident to Athletic Director Tim Curley. Later, McQueary meets with Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz. McQueary testifies that he told Curley and Schultz that he saw Sandusky and the boy engage in anal sex; Curley and Schultz testify they were not told of any such allegation. No law enforcement investigation is launched.

    2005 or 2006 – Sandusky befriends another Second Mile participant whose allegations would form the foundation of the multi-year grand jury investigation.

    2006 or 2007 – Sandusky begins to spend more time with the boy, taking him to sporting events and giving him gifts. During this period, Sandusky performs oral sex on the boy more than 20 times and the boy performs oral sex on him once.

    2008 – The boy breaks off contact with Sandusky. Later, his mother calls the boy’s high school to report her son had been sexually assaulted and the principal bans Sandusky from campus and reports the incident to police. The ensuing investigation reveals 118 calls from Sandusky’s home and cell phone numbers to the boy’s home.

    November 2008 – Sandusky informs The Second Mile that he is under investigation. He is removed from all program activities involving children, according to the group.

    November 4, 2011 – The grand jury report is released.

    November 5, 2011 – Sandusky is arraigned on 40 criminal counts. He is released on $100,000 bail. Curley and Schultz are each charged with one count of felony perjury and one count of failure to report abuse allegations.

    November 7, 2011 – Curley and Schultz are both arraigned and resign from their positions.

    November 9, 2011 – Paterno announces that he intends to retire at the end of the 2011 football season. Hours later, university trustees announce that President Graham Spanier and Coach Paterno are fired, effective immediately.

    November 11, 2011 – McQueary, now a Penn State receivers’ coach, is placed on indefinite administrative leave.

    November 14, 2011 – In a phone interview with NBC’s Bob Costas, Sandusky states that he is “innocent” of the charges and claims that the only thing he did wrong was “showering with those kids.”

    November 15, 2011 – The Morning Call reports that in a November 8, 2011, email to a former classmate, McQueary says he did stop the 2002 assault he witnessed and talked with police about it.

    November 16, 2011 – Representatives of Penn State’s campus police and State College police say they have no record of having received any report from McQueary about his having witnessed the rape of a boy by Sandusky.

    November 16, 2011 – A new judge is assigned to the Sandusky case after it is discovered that Leslie Dutchcot, the judge who freed Sandusky on $100,000 bail, volunteered at The Second Mile charity.

    November 21, 2011 – It is announced that former FBI Director Louis Freeh will lead an independent inquiry for Penn State into the school’s response to allegations of child sex abuse.

    November 22, 2011 – The Patriot-News reports that Children and Youth Services in Pennsylvania has two open cases of child sex abuse against Sandusky. The cases were reported less than two months ago and are in the initial stages of investigation.

    November 22, 2011 – The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts announces that all Centre County Common Pleas Court judges have recused themselves from the Sandusky case. This is to avoid any conflicts of interest due to connections with Sandusky, The Second Mile charity, or Penn State.

    November 30, 2011 – The first lawsuit is filed on behalf of a person listed in the complaint as “John Doe,” who says he was 10 years-old when he met Sandusky through The Second Mile charity. His attorneys say Sandusky sexually abused the victim “over one hundred times” and threatened to harm the victim and his family if he alerted anyone to the abuse.

    December 2, 2011 – A victim’s attorneys say they have reached a settlement with The Second Mile that allows it to stay in operation but requires it to obtain court approval before transferring assets or closing.

    December 3, 2011 – In an interview with The New York Times, Sandusky says, “If I say, ‘No, I’m not attracted to young boys,’ that’s not the truth. Because I’m attracted to young people – boys, girls – I …” His lawyer speaks up at that point to note that Sandusky is not “sexually” attracted to them.

    December 7, 2011 – Sandusky is arrested on additional child rape charges, which raises the number of victims from eight to 10 people. He is charged with four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor. He also faces one new count of indecent assault and two counts of endangering a child’s welfare, in addition to a single new count of indecent assault and two counts of corruption of minors.

    December 8, 2011 – Sandusky is released on $250,000 bail. He is placed under house arrest and is required to wear an electronic monitoring device. He is also restricted from contacting the victims and possible witnesses, and he must be supervised during any interactions with minors.

    December 13, 2011 – Sandusky enters a plea of not guilty and waives his right to a preliminary hearing.

    December 16, 2011 – A hearing is held for Curley and Schultz. McQueary testifies he told university officials that he saw Sandusky possibly sexually assaulting a boy in 2002. Following the testimony, the judge rules that the perjury case against Curley and Schultz will go to trial. The incident is later said to have happened in 2001.

    January 13, 2012 – Curley and Schultz enter pleas of not guilty for their failure to report child sex abuse.

    January 22, 2012 – Paterno dies at the age of 85.

    February 14, 2012 – Penn State says that the Sandusky case has cost the university $3.2 million thus far in combined legal, consultant and public relations fees.

    June 11, 2012 – The Sandusky trial begins. On June 22, Sandusky is found guilty on 45 counts after jurors deliberate for almost 21 hours. His bail is immediately revoked, and he is taken to jail.

    June 30, 2012 – McQueary’s contract as assistant football coach ends.

    July 12, 2012 – Freeh announces the findings of the investigation into Penn State’s actions concerning Sandusky. The report accuses the former leaders at Penn State of showing “total and consistent disregard” for child sex abuse victims, while covering up the attacks of a longtime sexual predator.

    July 23, 2012 – The NCAA announces a $60 million fine against Penn State and bans the team from the postseason for four years. Additionally, the school must vacate all wins from 1998-2011 and will lose 20 football scholarships a year for four seasons.
    – The Big Ten Conference rules that Penn State’s share of bowl revenues for the next four seasons – roughly $13 million will be donated to charities working to prevent child abuse.

    August 24, 2012 – “Victim 1” files a lawsuit against Penn State.

    September 20, 2012 – Penn State hires Feinberg Rozen LLP (headed by Kenneth Feinberg who oversaw the 9/11 and BP oil spill victim funds).

    October 2, 2012 – McQueary files a whistleblower lawsuit against Penn State.

    October 8, 2012 – An audio statement from Sandusky airs in which he protests his innocence and says he is falsely accused.

    October 9, 2012 – Sandusky is sentenced to no less than 30 years and no more than 60 years in prison. During the hearing, Sandusky is designated a violent sexual offender.

    October 15, 2012 – Plaintiff “John Doe,” a 21-year-old male, files a lawsuit against Sandusky, Penn State, The Second Mile, Spanier, Curley and Schultz. Doe alleges that he would not have been assaulted by Sandusky if officials, who were aware he was molesting boys, had not covered up his misconduct.

    November 1, 2012 – The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania files eight charges against former Penn State President Spanier. The charges include perjury and endangering the welfare of a child. Former university Vice President Schultz and former Athletic Director Curley face the same charges, according to Attorney General Linda Kelly.

    November 15, 2012 – The Middle States Commission on Higher Education lifts its warning and reaffirms Penn State’s accreditation.

    January 30, 2013 – Judge John M. Cleland denies Sandusky’s appeal for a new trial.

    July 30, 2013 – A judge rules that Spanier, Curley and Schultz will face trial on obstruction of justice and other charges.

    August 26, 2013 – Attorneys announce Sandusky’s adopted son and six other victims have finalized settlement agreements.

    October 2, 2013 – The Superior Court of Pennsylvania denies Sandusky’s appeal.

    October 28, 2013 – Penn State announces it has reached settlements with 26 victims of Sandusky. The amount paid by the university totals $59.7 million.

    April 2, 2014 – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania also denies Sandusky’s appeal.

    September 8, 2014 – NCAA ends Penn State’s postseason ban and scholarship limits. The $60 million fine and the 13 years of vacated wins for Paterno remain in place.

    January 16, 2015 – The NCAA agrees to restore 111 of Paterno’s wins as part of a settlement of the lawsuit brought by State Senator Jake Corman and Treasurer Rob McCord. Also, as part of the settlement, Penn State agrees to commit $60 million to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse.

    December 23, 2015 – A spokeswoman for the State of Pennsylvania employee retirement system says Sandusky will receive $211,000 in back payments and his regular pension payments will resume. This is the result of a November 13 court ruling that reversed a 2012 decision to terminate Sandusky’s pension under a state law that allows the termination of pensions of public employees convicted of a “disqualifying crime.” The judge said in his ruling that Sandusky was not employed at the time of the crimes he was convicted of committing.

    January 22, 2016 – A three-judge panel reverses the obstruction of justice and conspiracy charges against Spanier, Curley and Schultz, and the perjury charges against Spanier and Curley.

    May 4, 2016 – A new allegation purports Paterno knew that his assistant coach Sandusky was sexually abusing a child as early as 1976, according to a new court filing. The ongoing lawsuit, filed in 2013, seeks to determine whether Penn State or its insurance policy is liable for paying Sandusky’s victims. At least 30 men were involved in a civil settlement with Penn State, and the number of victims could be higher.

    May 6, 2016 – CNN reports the story of another alleged victim who explains how he was a troubled young kid in 1971 when Sandusky raped him in a Penn State bathroom. He says his complaint about it was ignored by Paterno.

    July 12, 2016 – Newly unsealed court documents allege that Paterno knew about Sandusky’s abuse and that he dismissed a victim’s complaint.

    August 12, 2016 – In a bid for a new trial, Sandusky testifies at a post-conviction hearing claiming his lawyers bungled his 2012 trial. On the stand, Sandusky describes what he said as bad media and legal advice given to him by his former lawyer, Joseph Amendola.

    November 3, 2016 – The Department of Education fines Penn State $2.4 million for violating the Clery Act, a law that requires universities to report crime on campuses. It’s the largest fine in the history of the act.

    March 13, 2017 – Curley and Schultz plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of children in exchange for the dismissal of felony charges.

    March 24, 2017 – Spanier is found guilty on one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. Spanier was acquitted of more serious allegations, including conspiracy charges and a felony count of child endangerment.

    June 2, 2017 – Spanier and two other former administrators are sentenced to jail terms for failing to report a 2001 allegation that Sandusky was molesting young boys. Spanier whose total sentence is four to 12 months incarceration, will be on probation for two years and must pay a $7,500 fine, according to Joe Grace, a spokesman for Pennsylvania’s attorney general’s office.

    – Curley is sentenced to seven to 23 months’ incarceration and two years’ probation, Grace said. He will serve three months in jail followed by house arrest and pay a $5,000 fine.

    – Schultz is sentenced to six to 23 months’ incarceration and two years’ probation. He will serve two months in jail, followed by house arrest and pay a $5,000 fine, according to Grace.

    January 9, 2018 – Penn State reports that the total amount of settlement awards paid to Sandusky’s victims is now over $109 million.

    February 5, 2019 – In response to an appeal for a new trial that also questions the validity of mandatory minimum sentencing, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania orders Sandusky to be re-sentenced. The request for a new trial is denied.

    April 30, 2019 – US Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick vacates Spanier’s 2017 conviction for endangering the welfare of a child. Spanier was set to be sentenced on the one count conviction, instead, the court ordered the conviction be vacated because it was based on a criminal statute that did not go into effect until after the conduct in question. The state has 90 days to retry him, according to court documents. The following month, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro appeals the judge’s decision to throw out the conviction.

    November 22, 2019 – Sandusky is resentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, the same penalty that was previously overturned. The initial sentence of at least 30 years in prison was overturned by the Pennsylvania Superior Court, which found that mandatory minimum sentences were illegally imposed.

    March 26, 2020 – The US Office for Civil Rights finds that Penn State failed to protect students who filed sexual harassment complaints. OCR completed the compliance review after it was initially launched in 2014, and found that the University violated Title IX for several years, in various ways. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announces that the US Department of Education and the university have entered into a resolution agreement that compels Penn State to address deficiencies in their complaint process, reporting policy requirements, record keeping, and training of staff, university police and other persons who work with students.

    December 1, 2020 – Spanier’s conviction is restored by a federal appeals court.

    May 26, 2021 – A judge rules that Spanier will start his two month prison sentence on July 9. Spanier reports to jail early and is released on August 4 after serving 58 days.

    Sandusky Verdict

    Victim 1
    Count 1 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 2 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 3 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Felony 3)
    Count 4 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 1)
    Count 5 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 6 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Felony 3)

    Victim 2
    Count 7 – not guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 8 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 2)
    Count 9 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 1)
    Count 10 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 11 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Misdemeanor 1)

    Victim 3
    Count 12 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 2)
    Count 13 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 3)
    Count 14 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 15 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Felony 3)

    Victim 4
    Count 16 – ****DROPPED****: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 17 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 18 – ****DROPPED*****: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 19 – ****DROPPED*****: Aggravated Indecent Assault (Felony 2)
    Count 20 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 2)
    Count 21 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 1)
    Count 22 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 23 – guilty” Endangering Welfare of Children (Felony 3)

    Victim 5
    Count 24 – not guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 25 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 3)
    Count 26 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 27 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Felony 3)

    Victim 6
    Count 28 – not guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 29 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 3)
    Count 30 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 31 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Misdemeanor 1)

    Victim 7
    Count 32 – guilty: Criminal Attempt to Commit Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 2)
    Count 33 – ****DROPPED****: WITHDRAWN BY PROSECUTORS (unlawful contact with minors)
    Count 34 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 35 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Misdemeanor 1)

    Victim 8
    Count 36 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 37 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 2)
    Count 38 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 1)
    Count 39 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 40 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Misdemeanor 1)

    (Due to 2nd indictment, counts start over with Victims 9 and 10)

    Victim 9
    Count 1 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 2 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 3 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Felony 3)
    Count 4 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 1)
    Count 5 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 6 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Felony 3)

    Victim 10
    Count 7 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 8 – guilty: Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (Felony 1)
    Count 9 – guilty: Indecent Assault (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 10 – guilty: Unlawful Contact with Minors (Felony 1)
    Count 11 – guilty: Corruption of Minors (Misdemeanor 1)
    Count 12 – guilty: Endangering Welfare of Children (Felony 3)

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  • Christine Quinn’s Husband Christian Denied Restraining Order Request

    Christine Quinn’s Husband Christian Denied Restraining Order Request

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    Christine Quinn, Christian Richard     Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images; Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

    Christine Quinn‘s estranged husband, Christian Richard, was denied his request for a restraining order amid their divorce.

    Quinn, 35, and Richard, 44, filed for restraining orders against one another following an alleged domestic violence incident in March. The Selling Sunset alum’s request was granted last month, but Richard’s was denied on Wednesday, April 17, Us Weekly can confirm.

    Quinn’s attorney issued a statement after the court hearing, noting, “We are pleased that the Court dismissed Christian’s baseless request for a DVRO against Christine today. As such, all of his requests have been denied again. The Court also extended Christine’s Temporary Restraining Order protecting her and her son from Christian until May 14, 2024. We look forward to appearing at that hearing to obtain a permanent restraining order.”

    People reported that the pair’s hearing was pushed because Quinn wasn’t able to serve Richard with the court ordered restraining order. In earlier paperwork, Quinn claimed she was told by a man who was removing Richard’s belongings from their shared home that he was currently “in Europe.”

    Christine Quinn and Husband Christian Dumontet Relationship Timeline Christian Richard 2

    Related: Selling Sunset’s Christine Quinn and Husband Christian Richard’s Timeline

    Selling Sunset alum Christine Quinn met husband Christian Richard through a matchmaking mutual friend and work. “[My friend was] like, ‘Also, he’s looking for a house.’ And I was like: double bonus,” Quinn recalled to Bustle in May 2020. “Him and I had an amazing steak dinner and got to know each other, and we […]

    Quinn’s restraining order stated that Richard must not come within 100 years of her, her home, her vehicle, her job or their child’s “school or childcare.” Since the paperwork wasn’t served, however, those orders cannot currently be enforced. She has until May 9 to serve Richard the order.

    Quinn and Richard’s marital issues made headlines in March when he was arrested and booked for assault with a deadly weapon. A temporary restraining order was put in place following the incident. Richard was subsequently taken into custody for a second time after violating the order when he returned to their home.

    Richard subsequently filed for divorce from Quinn after two years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. Richard also requested full legal and physical custody of their 2-year-old son, Christian, while allowing Quinn visitation.

    Court documents obtained by Us on Tuesday, April 16, state that Quinn is seeking sole legal and physical custody because Richard’s “actions and behavior have put our son’s health and wellbeing at risk.”

    A source has since told Us that Quinn “felt controlled” by Richard throughout the entirety of their relationship.

    The Selling Sunset Curse Every Divorce That Rocked the Cast

    Related: The ‘Selling Sunset’ Curse: Every Split That Rocked the Franchise

    A reality television career can be tough on a marriage, but few unscripted series have a higher divorce rate than Netflix’s Selling Sunset franchise. Several stars of the real estate series have seen their marriages fall apart since the OG show’s March 2019 debut. Chrishell Stause became the first victim of what some have called […]

    “He never liked that her whole brand was about sex appeal and Christine would often have to lie about what partnerships or photoshoots she was doing so Christian wouldn’t have a meltdown,” the insider added, noting that Quinn “felt unsafe” for a while. “It has been toxic for several months and Christine has been in distress. … It is going to be a long messy road ahead of them, as they both have restraining orders and are not in agreement on plans with their son.”

    Quinn and Richard tied the knot in December 2019 following a whirlwind romance. The former reality star met Richard through a mutual friend, which led to them dating.

    “[My friend was] like, ‘Also, he’s looking for a house.’ And I was like: double bonus,” Quinn recalled to Bustle in May 2020. “Him and I had an amazing steak dinner and got to know each other, and we just hit it off right away. He’s everything that I ever wanted.”

    She added at the time: “He’s the opposite of me in every way because I love to put myself out there. I love to be fabulous. He doesn’t care about dressing up or looking good. He doesn’t care about any of that stuff. He only cares about his work and traveling. Which I care about as well.”

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    Yana Grebenyuk

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  • Rose Hanbury’s Controversy Details After Prince William Rumors

    Rose Hanbury’s Controversy Details After Prince William Rumors

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    Rose Hanbury, Prince William.     Getty Images(2)

    Rose Hanbury might be a main character in a dominant conspiracy surrounding British royals — and this time it’s not rooted in infidelity rumors.

    Hanbury, 40, has been making headlines for her connection to Prince William as questions about Princess Kate Middleton’s whereabouts continue to rise, but now, some of her home furnishings seem to be in question.

    Internet sleuths have unearthed various photo shoots of Hanbury and her husband, David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, posing in various rooms of their Norfolk, England home, Houghton Hall. The images — mainly from a May 2013 Vanity Fair profile and May 2023 Financial Times piece show the couple posing alongside what appear to be various oriental décor pieces that were allegedly looted from China during the Qing dynasty.

    “So, due to the #KateGate / #WhereIsKate missing Kate Middleton / Princess of Wales #Katespiracy drama, lots of people around the world have increased interest in Rose Hanbury and her mysterious connection to Prince William,” one X user wrote earlier this week, sharing the photos of Hanbury and her husband. “Unfortunately, people in China looked a little too closely at this photoshoot of the Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley in their gorgeous stately home, and noticed that it’s full of authentic Chinese furniture and artefacts [sic] that were stolen from China during the fall of the Qing dynasty, and they are pissed.”

    Rose Hanbury s Family Guide Get to Know Her Husband Parents 3 Kids and More 219

    Related: Rose Hanbury’s Family Guide: Get to Know Her Husband, 3 Kids and More

    Rose Hanbury isn’t the only member of her family with connections to the British royal family. Rose, full name Sarah Rose Hanbury, is one of her parents Timothy and Emma Hanbury’s two daughters along with her older sister, Marina. She took on the title of The Marchioness of Cholmondeley after tying the knot with her […]

    The message continued: “Apparently, the Marquis of Cholmondeley inherited these controversial pieces from his Sassoon side of the family, and the Sassoons got them by pillaging Qing China while they were there trading opium,” the same X thread read. “Now, Chinese netizens noticed them in the background of their photoshoot at Houghton Hall.”

    The Sassoon family reportedly ran a trading empire in the 19th century, dealing commodities across various nations, including China. It’s unclear how the Sassons family — and now Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley — obtained the items in question. However, Sybil Sassoon is Cholmondeley’s paternal grandmother, so it seems there might be a connection.

    Former BuzzFeed royal reporter Ellie Hall even weighed in on the new controversy, referring to it as a “favorite unanticipated side-plots” of the ongoing royal family drama.

    Breaking Down Rose Hanbury’s Decor Scandal as Prince William Rumors Continue to Swirl
    Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

    Hanbury’s connection to the royal family actually dates back years. In fact, she attended Kate and William’s 2011 wedding. Eight years later, affair rumors between Hanbury and William started swirling. (In 2019, multiple outlets reported that Kate and Hanbury had a falling out over the alleged infidelity.)

    Royal watchers brought up the affair rumors more recently when Kate’s whereabouts came into question after she underwent an abdominal surgery in January. Social media users went rogue with theories about the Princess of Wales’ well-being, with some claiming that William and Hanbury’s affair being the reason she hasn’t stepped out of the public eye.

    Biggest Royal Family Scandals Through Years

    Related: Biggest Royal Family Scandals Through the Years

    The British royal family may appear prim and proper to the public, but they’ve faced their fair share of controversies over the years. One of the biggest royal scandals in recent memory came when King Charles III and the late Princess Diana announced their separation in 1992 after 10 years of marriage. At the time, […]

    “The rumors are completely false,” Hanbury’s lawyers reportedly told Business Insider earlier this week, denying the affair.

    Editor-in-Chief of True Royalty TV Nick Bullen exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, March 19, that Hanbury is “very upset” by the infidelity rumors being brought up once again.

    “I know people who know the Marchioness of Cholmondeley very, very well, and she absolutely was not having an affair with the Prince of Wales,” Bullen added.

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  • Sharon Osborne Claims No One Will Hire Her in America

    Sharon Osborne Claims No One Will Hire Her in America

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    Sharon Osbourne     Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

    Sharon Osbourne says she can’t find any work across the pond.

    On an episode of ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother that aired in the UK on Thursday, March 7, Osbourne, 71, claimed that she had been “banned in America” due to her firing from The Talk in 2021 after accusations of racist behavior behind the scenes.

    “I got banned in America,” Osbourne told her Celebrity Big Brother housemates Lauren Simon and Louis Walsh. “I did nothing wrong.” When asked by Simon if she could find work in the US, Osbourne shared, “I can legally…but nobody will employ me because they say I am racist.

    Simon responded to this by noting that Osbourne is Jewish, to which the Osbournes alum replied, “I know, and that’s what I said to them!” She continued, “They think we don’t know what it’s like to be picked on. I wouldn’t pick on anyone because of their race or religion, ever.”

    Sharon Osbourne Through the Years From Ozzy Osbourne Marriage and Beyond

    Related: Sharon Osbourne Through the Years: From Ozzy Osbourne Marriage and Beyond

    Sharon Osbourne’s foray into the spotlight began when she was hired as now-husband Ozzy Osbourne’s talent manager. Nearly three years after Sharon came aboard Ozzy’s team, they tied the knot — and they are still going strong more than four decades later. “The person that makes me laugh the most is my husband,” Sharon exclusively […]

    In March 2021, Osbourne defended her friend and media personality Piers Morgan for his comments about Meghan Markle’s CBS interview, in which she discussed experiencing racism and suicidal thoughts. Morgan’s comments, wherein he questioned the validity of Markle’s statements, were met with backlash from the public.

    “Did I like everything he said? Did I agree with what he said? No,” Osbourne said on The Talk at the time. “Because it’s his opinion. It’s not my opinion… I support him for his freedom of speech, and he’s my friend.”

    Sharon Osborne Says No One Will Hire Her in America After ‘The Talk’ Firing

    Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Sara Gilbert, Carrie Ann Inaba and Sharon Osbourne of ‘The Talk.’     Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

    Osbourne’s co-host, Sheryl Underwood, responded, “While you are standing by your friend, it appears that you are giving validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist.”

    The former X Factor judge came to her own defense in response to Underwood. “I feel like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is racist, so that makes me a racist,” she said.

    Following these comments, Osbourne was further accused of racist and homophobic behavior behind the scenes of The Talk. Though she denied these allegations, she was fired from the show shortly after.

    “The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home,” CBS said in a statement at the time. “As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace.”

    Sharon Osbourne Howie Mandel Gabrielle Union AGT Judges Through the Years

    Related: Every ‘AGT’ Judge Through the Years

    Since America’s Got Talent debuted in June 2006, the show has gone through many changes — including swapping out the panel of judges from time to time. The series, created by Simon Cowell, kicked off with Piers Morgan, David Hasselhoff and Sharon Osbourne serving as judges. Later, the show expanded to four judges and Cowell […]

    Osbourne previously claimed in April 2022 that her career suffered a major blow after the Talk debacle. (She had been with the daytime talk show since 2010.)

    “They said to me, ‘You are on permanent suspension. We don’t think that you’re repentant enough. And we will decide whether you ever come back,’” the TV personality told The Sunday Times. “And I said, ‘Well, who’s going to make that decision?’ And they said, ‘We can’t tell you.’”

    Osbourne also shared that while her career in the U.K. was not affected by the controversy, the well of opportunities in the U.S. seemed to dry up instantly.

    “My phone as far as my TV career [in America was concerned] was nonexistent, not one call. Nothing,” she said at the time. “In England and Australia, it never changed. Here it was like I was dead.”

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    Emily Zogbi

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  • Did Katie Britt Misrepresent the Sex-Trafficking Story in Her SOTU Response?

    Did Katie Britt Misrepresent the Sex-Trafficking Story in Her SOTU Response?

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    Alabama senator Katie Britt’s official GOP response to Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday night has been widely criticized, primarily for how wholly bizarre it was, but also for the lurid stories Britt included in an attempt to illustrate why he has been a terrible nation-destroying president. A key anecdote Britt featured to that end was about a young woman she met during a January 2023 trip to the U.S. southern border who had been a victim of rape and sex trafficking as a teenager. She used the story as example of Biden’s failed border policies, clearly suggesting the woman had suffered these crimes inside the U.S. and as a direct result of the president’s failure to secure the southern border. Here is that section, from the transcript of the speech released by Britt’s office:

    [R]ight now, the American dream has turned into a nightmare for so many families. The true unvarnished state of our union begins and ends with this. Our families are hurting. Our country can do better.

    And you don’t have to look any further than the crisis at our southern border to see it. President Biden inherited the most secure border of all-time. But minutes after taking office, he suspended all deportations, halted construction of the border wall, and announced a plan to give amnesty to millions. 

    We know that President Biden didn’t just create this border crisis. He invited it with 94 executive actions in his first 100 days.

    When I first took office, I did something different. I traveled to the Del Rio sector of Texas, where I spoke to a woman who shared her story with me. She had been sex trafficked by the cartels starting at age 12. She told me not just that she was raped every day, but how many times a day she was raped. 

    The cartels put her on a mattress in a shoe-box of a room, and they sent men through that door, over and over again, for hours and hours on-end.

    We wouldn’t be OK with this happening in a third-world country. This is the United States of America, and it’s past time we start acting like it.

    President Biden’s border crisis is a disgrace. It’s despicable. And it’s almost entirely preventable.

    On Friday, former Associated Press reporter Jonathan Katz highlighted several details which, at best, call Britt’s framing of the woman’s story into question. In both a Bluesky thread and a TikTok video, the independent journalist said that he tried to confirm the details Britt shared, noting that during her trip to the border in January 2023, Britt and two other GOP senators, Marsha Blackburn and Cindy Hyde-Smith, held a roundtable press conference with a Mexican congresswoman, a Fox News contributor, and a Mexican sex-trafficking survivor named Karla Jacinto Romero.

    In 2004, Romero was forced into sex slavery in Mexico when she was 12 years old, and after she escaped her pimp four years later, bravely dedicated her life to activism against slavery and sex trafficking. Since then, she has repeatedly recounted the horrific details of her experience, including in testimony before Congress in 2015, and again with Britt, Blackburn, and Hyde-Smith in 2023.

    As Katz pointed out, Britt clearly cited the sex trafficking victim’s experience as a consequence of President Biden’s border policies, but if in fact the story she referred to was Romero’s, those crimes happened in Mexico at a time when George W. Bush was president. In addition Britt framed the story as having happened amid the current border crisis, in the border region, right before she began citing alleged migrant-perpetrated violence inside the U.S.

    Both Politico Playbook and AL.com columnist Kyle Whitmire reached out to Britt’s office for comment regarding Katz’s investigation, and Britt spokesperson Sean Ross sent a statement in reply insisting that “the story Senator Britt told was 100% correct. There are more innocent victims of that kind of disgusting, brutal trafficking by the cartels than ever before right now.” The statement further claims that the Biden administration’s policies “have empowered the cartels and acted as a magnet to a historic level or migrants making the dangerous journey to our border. Along that journey, children, women, and men are being subjected to gut-wrenching, heartbreaking horrors in our own backyard.”

    The Britt spokesperson hasn’t yet confirmed whether or not Romero was the victim Britt spoke with, but in a video about the January 2023 border visit produced by Senator Blackburn’s office, Britt referenced what appeared to be Romero’s account, while footage of her and Romero appeared. In those remarks, Britt argued that the U.S. needed to do more to prevent such crime:

    If we, as leaders of the greatest nation in the world, are not fighting to protect the most vulnerable, we are not doing our job.

    That’s not the argument Britt made in her State of the Union response on Thursday. If she was in fact referencing Romero’s story, Britt made up a totally false context in her speech in order to suggest Biden was to blame for something that happened two decades ago.

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    Chas Danner

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  • Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good Make Red Carpet Debut After His Trial

    Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good Make Red Carpet Debut After His Trial

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    Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good     Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images

    Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good made their red carpet debut nearly four months after he was found guilty of domestic assault.

    The couple were all smiles as they attended the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Special Achievement Honorees Luncheon on Sunday, March 3. Majors, 34, donned a black hat and gray trench coat as he posed alongside Good, 42.

    The actress opted for a yellow dress complete with cutout that showed off her toned stomach. The couple smiled and looked lovingly at each other while cameras flashed.

    Sunday’s outing marked the first time that Good and Majors have walked a red carpet together since kicking off their romance in May 2023. This was hardly their first public appearance, however. Good was photographed by Majors’ side throughout his domestic abuse trial and subsequent conviction.

    Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good's Relationship Timeline

    Related: Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good’s Relationship Timeline

    Jonathan Majors has had the continued support of girlfriend Meagan Good amid his legal issues. Before the couple started dating, Good went through a divorce from DeVon Franklin after nine years of marriage. Franklin filed the paperwork in late 2021, and the duo finalized their split nearly one year later. In a joint statement, Good […]

    Majors was arrested in March 2023 after a woman, who was later identified as his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, accused him of assault. Majors was taken into custody at the time, but his rep has denied all claims. Days after his initial arrest, Majors was arraigned and charged with assault and harassment.

    Feature Jonathan Majors Makes Red Carpet Debut With Meagan Good 3 Months After Domestic Assault Conviction

    Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good     Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images

    While his trial was initially set for August 2023, Majors’ lawyer, Priya Chaudry, requested more time to prepare. The trial was postponed several times before ultimately starting in November 2023.

    The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office later allowed evidence to go public, including text messages sent from Majors to Jabbari in September 2022 in which he threatened suicide. A second string of messages showed Majors seemingly dissuading Jabbari to seek medical treatment after she suffered a head injury.

    “I fear you have no perspective of what could happen if you go to the hospital,” the messages read. “They will ask you questions and as I don’t think you actually protect us it could lead to an investigation even if you do lie and they suspect something.”

    Jonathan Majors Makes Red Carpet Debut With Meagan Good 3 Months After Domestic Assault Conviction

    Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors     Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images

    As the trial came to an end in December 2023, Majors was visibly emotional during closing statements. The jury found Majors guilty of assault in the third degree and harassment later that month. He was found not guilty of aggravated harassment in the second degree and not guilty of one count of assault in the third degree. (Majors, who portrayed Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was dropped from future projects following his conviction.)

    Jonathan Majors’ Legal Drama: Timeline of His Alleged Domestic Violence Dispute, Arrest and More

    Related: Jonathan Majors’ Legal Drama Timeline

    Jonathan Majors made headlines on March 25 when he was arrested following an alleged domestic violence dispute. The New York Police Department named Majors as the aggressor in an assault involving a 30-year-old woman in a statement to Variety. “The victim informed police she was assaulted. Officers placed the 33-year-old male into custody without incident,” […]

    Majors recalled being “absolutely shocked and afraid” before receiving the verdict in a January interview with Good Morning America.

    “A lot has happened in my personal life, in my career, in the culture,” he said. “It’s about responsibility and coming forward and being brave and giving my part of the story.”

    While his sentencing was originally set for last month, the hearing has been postponed until April 8.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
    https://www.thehotline.org/

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    Shelby Stivale

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  • Iraq Prison Abuse Scandal Fast Facts | CNN

    Iraq Prison Abuse Scandal Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s some background information about the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal which took place during the Iraq war.

    Abu Ghraib prison was a US Army detention center for captured Iraqis from 2003 to 2006. An investigation into the treatment of detainees at the prison was prompted by the discovery of graphic photos depicting guards abusing detainees in 2003.

    The facility was located 20 miles west of Baghdad on 280 acres.

    At the height of the scandal, the prison held as many as 3,800 detainees.

    Most of the detainees lived in tents in the prison yards.

    The abuses took place inside the prison in cell blocks 1A and 1B.

    Eleven US soldiers were convicted of crimes relating to the Abu Ghraib scandal. Seven of those were from Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company. A number of other service members were not charged but reprimanded.

    November 2003 – A detainee dies during an interrogation at Abu Ghraib.

    January 2004 – Spc. Joseph M. Darby discovers photos on a CD-ROM of Iraqi prisoners being abused. He reports the abuse to superiors, prompting an investigation.

    April 4, 2004 – Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba releases his report to Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez about misconduct in the 800th Military Police Brigade.

    April 28, 2004 – “60 Minutes II” broadcasts graphic photos of Iraqi detainees being humiliated and tortured.

    April 30, 2004 – The New Yorker publishes an article by Seymour Hersh reporting details in the Taguba report on the abuses at Abu Ghraib.

    April 30, 2004 – Taguba’s report detailing his investigation of the 800th Military Police Brigade is released.

    Taguba’s report states that the following abuses happened in this incident:
    – Punching, slapping and kicking detainees; jumping on their naked feet.
    – Videotaping and photographing naked male and female detainees.
    – Forcibly arranging detainees in various sexually explicit positions for photographing.
    – Forcing detainees to remove their clothing and keeping them naked for several days at a time.
    – Forcing naked male detainees to wear women’s underwear.
    – Forcing groups of male detainees to masturbate themselves while being photographed and videotaped.
    – Arranging naked male detainees in a pile and then jumping on them.
    – Positioning a naked detainee on a box, with a sandbag on his head, and attaching wires to his fingers, toes, and penis to simulate electric torture.
    – Writing “I am a Rapest (sic)” on the leg of a detainee accused of rape, and then photographing him naked.
    – Placing a dog chain or strap around a naked detainee’s neck and having a female soldier pose for a picture.
    – A male MP guard having sex with a female detainee.
    – Using military working dogs (without muzzles) to intimidate and frighten detainees, and in at least one case biting and severely injuring a detainee.
    – Taking photographs of dead Iraqi detainees.

    May 4, 2004 – Gen. George W. Casey Jr. announces that in the past 16 months, the US Army has conducted more than 30 criminal investigations into misconduct by US captors during both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

    May 5, 2004 – US President George W. Bush records interviews with Al Arabiya and US-sponsored Al-Hurra networks expressing his disgust with the mistreatment of Iraqi detainees.

    May 6, 2004 – During a joint news conference with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Bush expresses remorse “for the humiliation suffered” by Iraqi prisoners at the hands of US troops.

    May 6, 2004 – The Justice Department announces that it is looking into three suspicious deaths of detainees, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, and the involvement of the CIA and contractors in the deaths.

    May 7, 2004 – US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld testifies before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. “These events occurred on my watch…as Secretary of Defense, I am accountable for them and I take full responsibility…there are other photos – many other photos – that depict incidents of physical violence towards prisoners, acts that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhuman.”

    May 10, 2004 – Bush views some of the photos at the Pentagon and announces his firm support for Rumsfeld.

    May 12, 2004 – Rumsfeld testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.

    August 24, 2004 – An independent commission headed by former US Secretary of Defense James Schleslinger reports that what took place at the prison was due largely to “sadism” on the part of officers working the night shift, but that responsibility for the mistreatment of prisoners went higher up the chain of command, back to Washington, DC.

    August 25, 2004 – The Fay-Jones report on the Abu Ghraib scandal finds 44 instances of abuse, some of which amounted to torture.

    February 15, 2006 – A new set of graphic photographs and video from Abu Ghraib are aired on the Australian television network SBS’s program “Dateline.” The photos are reportedly from the same period in 2003 that the previous photos were shot, not new incidents.

    June 1, 2006 – Sgt. Santos Cardona, an Army dog handler, is found guilty of two of five counts against him, including aggravated assault and unlawfully using his dog to threaten detainees. He is sentenced to 90 days hard labor and a reduction of rank. He must also forfeit $600 of pay per month for a year.

    September 1, 2006 – Control of Abu Ghraib is handed over to the Iraqis after all of the detainees are transferred elsewhere.

    February 2008 – A documentary about the Abu Ghraib scandal by Oscar-winning director Errol Morris, “Standard Operating Procedure,” debuts at the Berlin Film Festival.

    June 30, 2008 – Former detainees of Abu Ghraib prison file a lawsuit against CACI Premier Technology, a military contractor who supplied the army with interrogators.

    February 21, 2009 – Abu Ghraib reopens after major renovations which include a new gym, barber shop, sewing room, outdoor recreational areas, a library, and computer room. Its name is changed to Baghdad Central Prison.

    September 2009 – Saleh et al v. Titan Corporation et al, a federal class action lawsuit alleging abuse at Abu Ghraib by civilian contractors from CACI International is dismissed by a federal appeals court.

    2012 – Defense contractor Engility Holdings Inc. agrees to pay 71 former detainees at Abu Ghraib and other sites $5.28 million to settle a lawsuit filed in 2008.

    April 2014 – Iraq closes the prison due to security concerns.

    March 20, 2015 – US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein orders the Defense Department to release photos that show detainees being abused in detention centers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    January 18, 2017 – Hellerstein rules that the government must release an estimated 2,000 additional photos of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib and other military facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    August 23, 2019 – The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals allows a 2008 lawsuit filed by former detainees against CACI Premier Technology to move forward. The court denied CACI’s request to immediately appeal a lower court’s ruling that the company can be sued and is not immune from civil suit as a government contractor.

    June 28, 2021 – The US Supreme Court denies CACI Premier Technology’s petition, clearing the way for the 2008 lawsuit to proceed.

    Spc. Megan Ambuhl
    372nd Military Police Company
    October 30, 2004 – As part of a plea deal, Ambuhl pleads guilty to one charge of dereliction of duty. She is discharged from the Army without prison time.

    Sgt. Javal S. Davis
    372nd Military Police Company
    February 1, 2005 – Pleads guilty as part of a plea agreement.
    February 5, 2005 – Is sentenced to six months in a military prison.
    Late May 2005 – Is released after serving approximately three months.

    Pfc. Lynndie England
    372nd Military Police Company
    May 2, 2005 – England pleads guilty to reduced charges as part of a pretrial agreement.
    May 4, 2005 – A mistrial is declared after she pleads guilty but then states that she did not know her actions were wrong.
    September 21, 2005 – England’s second court-martial trial begins at Fort Hood, Texas.
    September 26, 2005 – England is found guilty of four counts of maltreating detainees, one count of conspiracy and one count of committing an indecent act.
    September 27, 2005 – Is sentenced to three years in prison and given a dishonorable discharge.
    March 2007 – Is released from military prison after serving half of her 36-month sentence.
    2009 – Her biography, “Tortured: Lynndie England, Abu Ghraib and the Photographs that Shocked the World,” is published.

    Staff Sgt. Ivan “Chip” Frederick II
    372nd Military Police Company
    October 20, 2004 – Pleads guilty to conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault, and committing an indecent act under a plea agreement.
    October 21, 2004 – Is sentenced to eight years in prison and also sentenced to a forfeiture of pay, a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to private.
    October 1, 2007 – Is paroled after serving approximately three years in a military prison.

    Spc. Charles Graner
    372nd Military Police Company
    January 14, 2005 – Graner is found guilty of nine of 10 counts under five separate charges.
    January 15, 2005 – Graner is sentenced to 10 years in prison, downgraded to the rank of private with loss of pay, and receives a dishonorable discharge.
    August 6, 2011 – Graner is released from prison.

    Spc. Sabrina Harman
    372nd Military Police Company
    May 16, 2005 – Is found guilty on six of the seven charges for her role in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.
    May 17, 2005 – Sentenced to six months in prison. Harman is demoted to private, and receives a bad conduct discharge after she finishes the sentence.

    Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan
    Director, Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center during the fall of 2003. Jordan is the only officer charged with prisoner abuse.
    April 28, 2006 – Charged with eight counts, including disobeying an order, dereliction of duty, cruelty, false statements, fraud and interfering with an investigation.
    August 28, 2007 – Acquitted of charges that he failed to control soldiers who abused detainees, but is found guilty of disobeying a general’s command not to talk about allegations of abuse at the prison. On August 29, he is sentenced with a reprimand.
    January 10, 2008 – Cleared of all wrongdoing, and the conviction and reprimand are removed from his record.

    Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski
    Commander of the Army Reserve’s 800th Military Police Brigade, in charge of all 12 Iraqi detention facilities, including Abu Ghraib.
    May 5, 2005 – She is demoted from brigadier general to colonel by President Bush after an extensive investigation and is cited for two of four allegations against her, dereliction of duty and shoplifting. The probe clears her of “making a material misrepresentation to an investigating team” and “failure to obey a lawful order.”

    Col. Thomas Pappas
    Commander of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade.
    May 2006 – Reprimanded, fined, and relieved of command after using muzzled dogs inside interrogation rooms.

    Lt. Col. Jerry L. Phillabaum
    Commander, 320th MP Battalion.
    April 2004 – He is reprimanded and relieved of command of the 320th Military Police Battalion for his role in the scandal.

    Spc. Jeremy Sivits
    372nd Military Police Company
    May 19, 2004 – Sivits pleads guilty as part of a pretrial agreement with prosecutors that leaves him open to testify against other soldiers charged in the scandal. He is sentenced to a year of confinement, discharge for bad conduct, and is demoted.

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  • Corruption scandals cast a shadow over Portugal’s early general election and may favor populists

    Corruption scandals cast a shadow over Portugal’s early general election and may favor populists

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    LISBON, Portugal — The official two-week campaign period before Portugal’s early general election began on Sunday, with the country’s two moderate mainstream parties once again expected to collect the most votes but with the expected rise of a populist party potentially adding momentum to Europe’s drift to the right.

    The center-left Socialist Party and center-right Social Democratic Party have alternated in power for decades. But they are unsure of how much support they might need from smaller rival parties for the parliamentary votes needed to form a government after the March 10 vote.

    Corruption scandals have cast a shadow over the ballot. They have also fed public disenchantment with the country’s political class as Portugal prepares to celebrate 50 years of democracy, following the Carnation Revolution that toppled a rightist dictatorship on April 25, 1974.

    The election is being held after a Socialist government collapsed last November following a corruption investigation. That case brought a police search of Prime Minister António Costa’s official residence and the arrest of his chief of staff. Costa hasn’t been accused of any crime.

    Also in recent weeks, a Lisbon court decided that a former Socialist prime minister should stand trial for corruption. Prosecutors allege that José Sócrates, prime minister between 2005-2011, pocketed around 34 million euros ($36.7 million) during his time in power from graft, fraud and money laundering.

    The Social Democratic Party has also been tainted by corruption allegations.

    During the recent weeks of unofficial campaigning, a graft investigation in Portugal’s Madeira Islands triggered the resignation of two prominent Social Democrat officials. The scandal erupted on the same day the Social Democratic Party unveiled an anti-corruption billboard in Lisbon that said, “It can’t go on like this.”

    A housing crisis, persistent levels of low pay and unreliable public health services are other areas where the records of the two main parties are at issue.

    Hot-button topics that have driven political debate and encouraged populist parties elsewhere in Europe, such as climate change, migration and religious differences, have largely been absent in Portugal’s campaign.

    A five-year-old populist and nationalist party called Chega! (in English, Enough!) has made the fight against corruption one of its political banners. “Portugal needs cleaning out,” one of its billboards declares.

    The party’s leader, 41-year-old lawyer André Ventura, has been riding in third place in opinion polls and could become a kingmaker if his political influence grows. His party got just 1.3% of votes in a 2019 election, but jumped to 7.3% in 2022. It could collect more than double that this time, polls suggest, if a protest vote materializes.

    A key question is whether the Social Democrats will end up needing the votes of Chega! to make up a parliamentary majority after eight years in opposition.

    The Socialist Party could, as in the past, forge parliamentary alliances with the Portuguese Communist Party or Left Bloc party to take power.

    Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos, his party’s candidate for prime minister, is a lawmaker and a former minister for housing and infrastructure. Santos, 46, quit the previous government under a cloud over his handling of bailed-out flag carrier TAP Air Portugal and a dispute over the site of a new Lisbon airport.

    Luís Montenegro, the 51-year-old Social Democrat leader aiming to become prime minister, has been a lawmaker for more than 20 years. He heads the Democratic Alliance, a grouping with two smaller right-of-center parties formed for the election.

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  • Felicity Huffman Is “Still Processing” the College Admissions Scandal

    Felicity Huffman Is “Still Processing” the College Admissions Scandal

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    Nearly five years after she served 11 days in jail for her involvement in the college admissions scandal, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues, Felicity Huffman admits that it’s been hard to shed the public shame of her criminal act.

    “I walk into the room with it. I did it. It’s black-and-white,” Huffman told The Guardian in a new interview. “How I am is kind of a loaded question. As long as my kids are well and my husband [actor William H. Macy] is well, I feel like I’m well.” In 2019, the Desperate Housewives actor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud for paying William “Rick” Singer $15,000 to doctor her daughter’s SAT scores. (Huffman also paid a $30,000 fine, completed 250 hours of community service, and issued a written apology.) Now, she says, “I’m grateful to be here. But how am I? I guess I’m still processing.”

    Huffman was embroiled in the controversy with 32 other parents, including Full House star Lori Loughlin, who served almost two months in prison. Singer himself pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of justice; he was sentenced to 42 months in prison and ordered to pay $10 million in restitution to the IRS. “When he slowly started to present the criminal scheme, it seemed like—and I know this seems crazy—at the time that that was my only option to give my daughter a future,” Huffman said last December. “I know hindsight is 20/20, but it felt like I would be a bad mother if I didn’t do it. So I did it.”

    Since her conviction, Huffman has failed to secure any major screen roles. “I’m not in any way whitewashing what I did, but some people have been kind and compassionate,” she told The Guardian. “Others have not.” Last year, ABC passed on a spin-off of The Good Doctor involving Huffman, after the network cast her in a baseball comedy series in 2020 that never materialized. “I did a pilot for ABC recently that didn’t get picked up. It’s been hard. Sort of like your old life died and you died with it,” Huffman said. “I’m lucky enough to have a family and love and means, so I had a place to land.”

    Instead, the Emmy winner has found her next gig on the London stage, starring in a revival of Taylor Mac’s Hir. Huffman plays Paige, the mother of a transgender child. Back in 2006, she was Oscar-nominated for playing a trans woman in Transamerica—a role Huffman knows she “wouldn’t be able to do now.” She added, “I think we should reflect the audience, and that’s got to include everybody. There has been such inequity for so long, and now the pendulum must swing the other way. But I hope it leads to a situation where anyone can play anything.”

    When asked by the publication what it was like to meet trans actor Alexandra Billings, who says she was originally offered the part before Huffman expressed interest, she replied,“I have no memory of that. As an excuse, I also have no estrogen left in my body.”

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    Savannah Walsh

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  • VPR’s Ariana Madix Calls Tom Schwartz Out for Supporting Tom Sandoval

    VPR’s Ariana Madix Calls Tom Schwartz Out for Supporting Tom Sandoval

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    Ariana Madix, Tom Schwartz, Tom Sandoval.     Bruce Glikas/WireImage ; Getty Images (2)

    Ariana Madix didn’t mince words when she heard Tom Schwartz‘s comments about how Vanderpump Rules fans should give Tom Sandoval a hug.

    During the Vanderpump Rules season 11 premiere, which aired on Tuesday, January 30, Ariana, 38, recalled reaching out to Schwartz, 41, following his infamous interview about Sandoval’s cheating scandal.

    “I have [Schwartz] blocked on everything. After we talked that night [on the season 10 finale], I was like ‘We are not going to have a relationship.’ But I’m not saying, ‘F—k off,’” Ariana told Scheana Shay. “So, then, he did Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and he was like, ‘People need to go and hug [Sandoval].’ So I texted him and then I blocked him.”

    In a confessional, Ariana noted that her message wasn’t too mean, adding, “I don’t remember exactly what I said to Schwartz but I don’t think it was that bad.”

    Vanderpump Rules Costars Ariana Madix and Tom Schwartz Ups and Downs Through the Years Feature

    Related: Ariana Madix and Tom Schwartz’s Ups and Downs Through the Years

    Ariana Madix and Tom Schwartz maintained a bond throughout the years, but things took an unexpected turn in the aftermath of Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss‘ cheating scandal. When season 10 of Vanderpump Rules started to air in February 2023, the topic on everyone’s mind was Schwartz’s hookup with Leviss amid his divorce from Katie […]

    Schwartz mentioned the graphic text during his own confessional, which read, “It says, ‘F—k you, I am blocking your number. Go choke on Sandoval’s dirty ass dick some more.’ Jesus. For the record, I’ve never choked on Sandoval’s dirty ass dick.”

    Throughout the episode, Schwartz attempted to make amends with Ariana — to no avail. He previously faced backlash after showing support for Sandoval, 41, in the aftermath of his affair with their now-former costar Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. (Schwartz hooked up with the beauty queen, 29, in August 2022 shortly before she sparked her romance with Sandoval.)

    Find Out What Vanderpump Rules Ariana Madix Texted Tom Schwartz After He Supported Tom Sandoval 143
    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

    After news broke about Sandoval and Ariana’s split, Schwartz surprised Bravo fans when he requested empathy for his friend and business partner.

    “First of all, Ariana, love you. I know you don’t love me right now, but I still love you. And also, Tom, I know the whole world hates you. But I’m not going to abandon you, old buddy. I’m not going to abandon you,” he said on WWHL in April 2023. “He knows he’s a monster for what he did. If you see him, maybe give him a hug. Even if he doesn’t deserve it, give him a hug. He’s down bad.”

    Ariana called out Schwartz for his continued loyalty to Sandoval during the season 10 finale of Vanderpump Rules.

    “I don’t think you are a [co-conspirator] but I will not have mutual friends with him. So I am not your friend anymore,” Ariana said during the May 2023 episode. “I was his ride or die and defended him — to you even. … I wish I didn’t miss him but I feel like what I miss isn’t real.”

    That same month, Ariana recalled getting emotional watching Schwartz and Sandoval allude to the affair while cameras were rolling.

    “That was the first time I cried in a long time because watching Tom Schwartz fully cosign and alley-oop the whole thing disgusted me to my core,” she said on WWHL.

    As the drama continued to make headlines, Schwartz briefly admitted that Sandoval’s actions affected him in a negative way.

    “He made a big mess. And then you know, he left it for us to clean up back at the businesses. And it’s hard for me not to be resentful of him,” he told former Pump Rules stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright on their “Reality Hits” podcast in June 2023. “I’m taking a break from Tom right now. I haven’t seen him in awhile.”

    Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval's Friendship Over the Years

    Related: Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval’s Friendship Over the Years

    Countless friendships have come and gone throughout each season of Vanderpump Rules — but Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval’s bond has remained intact. Schwartz and Sandoval’s connection was formed even before Pump Rules premiered in 2013, with the twosome sharing an apartment with former costar Jax Taylor. By season 3 of the Bravo hit, Schwartz had been […]

    Schwartz said he felt “exploited” by his friend, adding, “It just looks like he has no contrition or it looks like he just doesn’t give a f—k and he’s living out his rockstar dreams and good for him. I think that’s one thing I’ve gleaned from all the people in the restaurant. They just don’t understand, like the lack of remorse. I know he f—king regrets it. But he doesn’t do a good job of showing that.”

    Schwartz and Sandoval were quickly able to get to a better place in their friendship as they continue to run their restaurant Schwartz & Sandy’s together. The duo also cohost Sandoval’s “Everybody Loves Tom” podcast and recently enjoyed a group trip to Thailand.

    Ariana, meanwhile, made it clear during Tuesday’s episode that she will not be forgiving Schwartz any time soon, saying, “I don’t see a friendship there.”

    Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on Peacock the next day.

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    Yana Grebenyuk

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  • A British postal scandal ruined hundreds of lives. The government plans to make right

    A British postal scandal ruined hundreds of lives. The government plans to make right

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    LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he will introduce measures to reverse the convictions of more than 900 Post Office branch managers wrongly accused of theft or fraud because of a faulty computer system in what is considered one of the gravest injustices in the nation’s history.

    The announcement Wednesday follows a TV docudrama on the wrongdoing that created a huge surge of public support for the former postmasters who have spent years trying to reclaim lives ruined by the scandal.

    “This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history,” Sunak said. “People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and their reputations destroyed through absolutely no fault of their own. The victims must get justice and compensation.”

    Lawmakers said they would provide compensation to those who had been convicted. Some also called for bringing those to justice who were responsible for the wrongdoing.

    Some things to know about the scandal:

    After the Post Office rolled out the Horizon IT system, developed by Japanese company Fujitsu, in 1999 to automate sales accounting, local Post Office managers began finding unexplained losses they were responsible to cover.

    The state-owned Post Office maintained Horizon was reliable and accused branch managers of dishonesty. Between 2000 and 2014, some 900 postal workers were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting, with some convicted and imprisoned and others forced into bankruptcy.

    In total, over 2,000 people were affected by the scandal. Some committed suicide or attempted it. Others said their marriages fell apart and reported becoming community pariahs.

    A group of postal workers took legal action against the Post Office in 2016. Three years later the High Court in London ruled that Horizon contained a number of “bugs, errors and defects” and that the Post Office “knew there were serious issues about the reliability” of the system.

    “Failures of investigation and disclosure were so egregious as to make the prosecution of any of the ‘Horizon cases’ an affront to the conscience of the court,” Justice Timothy Holroyde said.

    To date, just 95 convictions have been overturned, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake said.

    A government minister claimed this moment of reckoning has long been coming. But it was turbo-charged by a four-part TV docudrama that aired Jan. 1 and fueled public outrage that led to days of bruising headlines about the scandal and sparked a swift response by lawmakers.

    The ITV show, “Mr. Bates vs the Post Office,” told the story of branch manager Alan Bates, played by Toby Jones, who has spent nearly two decades trying to expose the scandal and exonerate his peers.

    Despite hundreds of news stories over the years about court hearings and an ongoing public inquiry, the show seen by millions rapidly galvanized support for victims of the injustice.

    Police last week opened a fraud investigation into potential offenses of perjury and perverting the course of justice over investigations and prosecutions carried out by the Post Office.

    More than a million people signed an online petition calling for former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells to lose her Commander of the Order of the British Empire title she received in 2018. By the end of Tuesday, she said she would relinquish the honor.

    The Post Office is state owned with independent franchise operators. Branch owners and employees typically lived in the communities where they operated and many became outcasts when accused of stealing.

    Lisa Brennan, a former clerk at a post office in Huyton, near Liverpool, told the inquiry that after being falsely accused of stealing 3,000 pounds ($3,800) in 2003 her marriage fell apart, she lost her house and ended up homeless with a young daughter.

    “It’s scandalous, it should never have happened,” she told the inquiry in 2022. “I wasn’t the only one but that’s what I was told: ‘It’s only you, you’re the only one.’”

    Janine Powell, a former subpostmistress in Tiverton in Devon who was accused of stealing around 71,000 pounds ($90,000), said she felt broken after being sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2008.

    She had to leave her three children, aged 10 to 18 at the time, and that strained their relationship. She harmed herself, considered suicide and struggled to get a job after her release.

    “It had a big impact. You have to declare obviously that you’ve got a criminal record,” Powell said. “When you try to explain (to employers) it’s a ‘no’ straight away, so I couldn’t work.”

    The government plans to set aside 1 billion pounds ($1.27 billion) to compensate the wrongly convicted and others whose lives were destroyed in the scandal.

    To date, nearly 150 million pounds have been paid to more than 2,500 victims, Sunak said.

    The legislation envisioned would quash convictions and award those who have been cleared at least 600,000 pounds ($763,000), the government said. They could receive more if they go through a process to assess their claim.

    Those who were not convicted but lost money would be offered at least 75,000 pounds ($95,000).

    The government said there is a chance some postal employees who did commit fraud or theft could end up being exonerated and receive compensation.

    “The risk is that instead of unjust convictions, we shall end up with unjust acquittals and we just do not know how many,” Hollinrake said. “But we cannot make the provision of compensation subject to a detailed examination of guilt.”

    Some members of Parliament called for bringing charges against those who had been aware of the software problems and allowed prosecutions to go forward.

    “Will the government accelerate the investigations to convict those who are really guilty of causing this scandal by perverting the course of justice?” said David Davis, a Conservative member of the House of Commons.

    Hollinrake said the ongoing public inquiry will identify the organizations and individuals responsible for the scandal.

    Duncan Baker, a Conservative who had once run a postal branch in Norfolk, said he wanted to know how much money the Post Office pocketed.

    “One question that has never been answered is just how much money was taken unlawfully from thousands of innocent men and women,” Baker said. “The Post Office took that money, we have never known that figure.”

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  • Ian Ziering Breaks Silence After 'Alarming' Biker Attack

    Ian Ziering Breaks Silence After 'Alarming' Biker Attack

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    Ian Ziering spoke out after he was involved in a brawl with several bikers on New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles.

    “Yesterday, I experienced an alarming incident involving a group of individuals on mini bikes,” the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 59, wrote via Instagram on Monday, January 1. “While stuck in traffic, my car was approached aggressively by one of these riders leading to an unsettling confrontation. In an attempt to assess any damage I exited my car. This action, unfortunately, escalated into a physical altercation, which I navigated to protect myself.”

    A video of the incident, obtained by TMZ, showed Ziering in an altercation with several people who were riding on motorized minibikes on Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday, December 31. He explained that his daughter Mia, 12, was in the car with him at the time, but they were both unharmed. (Ziering shares Mia and daughter Penna, 10, with ex-wife Erin Ludwig.)

    “I am relieved to report that my daughter and I are both completely unscathed, but the incident has left me deeply concerned about the growing boldness of such groups who disrupt public safety and peace,” Ziering explained in his post.

    He continued, “This situation highlights a larger issue of hooliganism on our streets and the need for effective law enforcement responses to such behavior. As a citizen and a parent, I find it unacceptable that groups can freely engage in this kind of behavior, causing fear and chaos, while the response from authorities seems insufficient.”


    Ian Ziering     Courtesy of Ian Ziering/Instagram

    The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA on Sunday that they received reports that a fight had broken out after bikers were spotted driving recklessly in the area. Officers had responded to the Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue area around 3 p.m. PT, though both Ziering and the bikers fled the scene after the fight. An official police report has been filed, which lists Ziering as the victim. No arrests have been made, and an investigation is still underway, per TMZ.

    Ziering declared that he wants to see “decisive action” from officials after the incident.

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    “I have always been an advocate for standing up against intimidation and misconduct, and this incident reinforces my belief in the importance of personal and community safety,” he added. “We must address the underlying issues that lead to such disruptive behavior and ensure that our streets are safe for everyone. I urge city officials and law enforcement to take decisive action against such lawlessness and provide the necessary resources to prevent future occurrences.”

    The actor concluded his statement: “I am thankful for the support of my family, friends, and fans during this time. It’s in challenging moments like these that the strength and unity of our community are most vital. Happy new year.”

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    Nicole Massabrook

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  • Nigel Lythgoe Denies Paula Abdul's Sexual Assault Claims

    Nigel Lythgoe Denies Paula Abdul's Sexual Assault Claims

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    Nigel Lythgoe denied Paula Abdul‘s allegations that he sexually assaulted her.

    “To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement,” the former American Idol executive producer, 74, said in a statement to Us Weekly on Saturday, December 30. “For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear — and entirely platonic — friends and colleagues.”

    He continued, “Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.”

    He concluded, “While Paula’s history of erratic behavior is well known, I can’t pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue. But I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have.”

    Related: Hollywood’s Sexual Misconduct Scandals

    While Hollywood may appear to be all glitz and glam on the surface, the industry has seen its fair share of scandals through the years. The New York Times and the New Yorker first published investigative pieces in 2017 that accused disgruntled movie producer Harvey Weinstein of decades of sexual assault and harassment. Soon after, Weinstein stood trial and was […]

    Lythgoe did not elaborate on what he meant by “erratic behavior.”

    Abdul, 61, submitted a lawsuit on Friday, December 29, against Lythgoe as well as 19 Entertainment Inc., American Idol Productions Inc. and Dance Nation Productions Inc. She is seeking a jury trial and damages for sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment and gender violence, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly.

    The filing details multiple alleged incidents, including one in an elevator during an early season of American Idol, where Abdul served as a judge for eight seasons from 2002 to 2009.

    Nigel Lythgoe poses with the 'American Idol' judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul

    American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe poses with the judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul on May 25, 2005.     Kevin Winter/Getty Images

    “Upon entering the elevator, Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat,” the court docs claim. “Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her and let him know that his behavior was not acceptable. When the doors to the elevator for her floor opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room. In tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform them of the assault, but ultimately decided not to take action for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol.”

    Her claims cover incidents that happened over several years, including one alleged incident around 2015 when Abdul was working on So You Think You Can Dance, which Lythgoe executive produces.

    “Lythgoe invited her to dinner at his home to discuss other opportunities for the two to work together. Believing this to be a professional invitation, Abdul accepted,” the filing says. “Toward the end of the evening, however, Lythgoe forced himself on top of Abdul while she was seated on his couch and attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that the two would make an excellent ‘power couple.’ Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not interested in his advances, and immediately left Lythgoe’s home. As with the earlier incident, Abdul feared she would be retaliated against or blackballed if she spoke out about the incident.”

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    Abdul filed her lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which allowed victims a one-year window to file sexual abuse lawsuits that would otherwise be outside the statute of limitations. The deadline expires on Sunday, December 31.

    If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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    Nicole Massabrook

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  • Dilma Rousseff Fast Facts | CNN

    Dilma Rousseff Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the life of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

    Birth date: December 14, 1947

    Birth place: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Birth name: Dilma Vana Rousseff

    Father: Pedro Rousseff, construction entrepreneur

    Mother: Dilma Jane (da Silva) Rousseff, teacher

    Marriages: Carlos Araujo (1973-2000, divorced); Claudio Galeno Linhares (1968-early 1970s, divorced)

    Children: with Carlos Araujo: Paula, 1976

    Education: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, B.A. Economics, 1977

    Prior to running for president, she had never run for an elected office.

    Joined the resistance movement against the military dictatorship and was jailed and allegedly tortured in the early 1970s.

    Rousseff democratized Brazil’s electricity sector through the “Luz Para Todos” (Light for All) program, which made electricity widely available, even in rural areas.

    1986 – Finance secretary for the city of Porto Alegre.

    2003 – Is named minister of mines and energy by President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva.

    2003-2010 – Serves as chair of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-run oil company.

    June 2005-March 2010 – Lula da Silva’s chief of staff.

    April 2009 – Is diagnosed with stage one lymphoma and begins treatment. By September, she is declared cancer free.

    October 31, 2010 – Wins a run-off election to become Brazil’s first female president.

    September 21, 2011 – Becomes the first female leader to kick off the annual United Nations General Assembly debates.

    2011 – Allegations of corruption are the basis of her dismissal of six cabinet ministers in her first year in office. Between June and December, her chief of staff, ministers of tourism, agriculture, transportation, sports and labor along with 20 transportation employees resign as a result of the scandal.

    September 17, 2013 – The United States and Brazil jointly agree to postpone Rousseff’s state visit to Washington next month due to controversy over reports the US government was spying on her communications.

    September 24, 2013 – In a speech before the UN General Assembly, Rousseff speaks about allegations that the US National Security Agency spied on her. “Tampering in such a manner in the lives and affairs of other countries is a breach of international law and, as such, it is an affront to the principles that should otherwise govern relations among countries, especially among friendly nations.”

    2014 – Executives at Petrobras are accused of illegally “diverting” billions from the company’s accounts for their personal use or to pay off officials. Rousseff served as chair of Petrobras during many of the years when the alleged corruption took place. She denies any knowledge of the corruption.

    October 26, 2014 – Is reelected president.

    December 2, 2015 – A bid to impeach Rousseff is launched by the speaker of the country’s lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha. Rousseff has been accused of hiding a budgetary deficit to win reelection in 2014, and opponents blame her for the worst recession in decades.

    April 17, 2016 – A total of 367 lawmakers in the Brazilian parliament’s lower house vote to impeach Rousseff, comfortably more than the two-thirds majority required by law. The impeachment motion will next go to the country’s Senate.

    May 12, 2016 – The Brazilian Senate votes 55-22 to begin an impeachment trial against Rousseff. Rousseff will step down for 180 days and Vice President Michel Temer will serve as interim president while the trial takes place.

    August 4, 2016 – After a final report concludes that reasons exist to proceed with formally removing Rousseff, the Brazilian Senate impeachment commission votes in favor of trying the suspended president in front of the full senate chamber.

    August 25, 2016 – Rousseff’s impeachment trial begins.

    August 31, 2016 – Brazil’s Senate votes 61-20 in favor of removing Rousseff from office.

    September 5, 2017 – Corruption charges are filed against Rousseff, her predecessor Lula da Silva, and six Workers’ Party members. They are accused of running a criminal organization, to divert funds from state-owned oil firm Petrobras. The charges are related to Operation Car Wash, a lengthy money laundering investigation conducted by the Brazilian government. Lula da Silva, Rousseff, and the Workers’ party deny the allegations.

    October 7, 2018 – Rousseff only receives 15% of the vote for senator in the general election.

    March 24, 2023 – The New Development Bank announces its board of governors elected Rousseff as its new president.

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  • 'Scream VII' Director Christopher Landon Quits After Cast Exits

    'Scream VII' Director Christopher Landon Quits After Cast Exits

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    Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

    Scream VII has lost yet another member of the filmmaking team with director Christopher Landon announcing his departure.

    “I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago,” Landon, 48, shared via X (formerly known as Twitter) on Saturday, December 23. “This will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone.”

    He continued, “But it’s time to move on. I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes [Craven’s] legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world. What he and Kevin [Williamson] created is something amazing and I was honored to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow.”

    Landon, known for his involvement with Happy Death Day and Freaky, was set to succeed Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who directed Scream V and Scream VI.

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    Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin revived the franchise nearly a decade after the fourth Scream was released, introducing new protagonists Sam and Tara Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, respectively. However, both actresses have exited the Scream franchise in recent weeks.

    Ortega, 21, left due to filming conflicts with Netflix’s Wednesday season 2 and reshoots for Beetlejuice 2. Her scheduling issues were reported days after Barrera, 33, was fired from the franchise.

    Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega
    Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

    Barrera was let go after vocalizing her support for Palestine amid the conflict with Israel. Variety reported last month that resharing posts that accused Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” and distorting “the Holocaust to boost the Israeli arms industry” led to her being dismissed.

    Production company Spyglass Media Group, who is behind the newer Scream films, subsequently denied that Barrera’s pro-Palestine comments caused the decision.

    “Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech,” their statement read.

    Barrera denied violating their rules on hate speech. “First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,” Barrera wrote via her Instagram Story on November 22. “I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.”

    The actress noted that “as a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard,” adding that she has tried to use her celebrity status as a way to “raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.”

    “Every person on this earth — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status — deserves equal human rights, dignity and, of course, freedom,” Barrera continued. “I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism.”

    Meanwhile, Landon responded to Barrera’s firing in a since-deleted post via X on November 21, writing, “This is my statement: 💔 Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”

    Scream VII does not yet have a release date.

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  • Trump loves the UFC. His campaign hopes viral videos of his appearances will help him pummel rivals

    Trump loves the UFC. His campaign hopes viral videos of his appearances will help him pummel rivals

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    NEW YORK — After Donald Trump attended South Carolina’s annual Palmetto Bowl, video of the crowd chanting “We want Trump!” as the former president arrived at Williams-Brice Stadium spread across conservative social media.

    It was much the same two weeks earlier when the GOP front-runner attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New York, fist-bumping and waving to the crowd as he entered Madison Square Garden like he was one of the fighters, with an entourage that included the musician Kid Rock, UFC president Dana White and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

    While Trump has spent less time campaigning in early-voting states than many of his Republican primary rivals, his campaign has been filling his schedule with appearances at major sporting events including Saturday’s UFC fight in Las Vegas. Videos of his appearances routinely rack up hundreds of thousands of views across social media, particularly on non-political outlets, including popular online sports channels and fan sites. And they are far easier and cheaper to produce than campaign rallies.

    It’s a strategy that, aides say, puts him in front of potential voters who may not closely follow politics or engage with traditional news sources. And it is part of a broader effort to expand Trump’s appeal with young people and minority voters, particularly Latino and Black men, that the campaign hopes to win over in greater numbers after gains in 2020. UFC’s fanbase in particular is overwhelmingly male.

    Aides stress Trump is a genuine sports fan who frequented fights and games long before he ran for the White House and would be attending even if he weren’t running. He is a particular aficionado of boxing and other combat sports. During a summer appearance on the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast, Trump recalled his favorite fights from decades ago, blow by blow.

    In the 1980s, he befriended boxing legends like Mike Tyson and promoter Don King as he hosted high-profile fights at his Atlantic City casinos and became so involved with professional wrestling that he starred in WrestleMania 23’s “Battle of the Billionaires.” And for a time, he owned the New Jersey Generals, a professional team that played in the NFL-rival United States Football League.

    In recent years, he has become particularly tied to mixed martial arts and its machismo. He is close personal friends with White, UFC’s founder, who spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016 and 2020 and credits Trump for saving the sport by hosting fights when others shunned it as too violent.

    Campaign staff often tune into fights late at night aboard Trump’s private plane as he returns to Palm Beach, Florida, following events, streaming fights on ESPN+ or DAZN.

    Trump has also drawn support from the sport’s stars, including Colby Covington, who will be fighting Leon Edwards Saturday night for UFC’s welterweight title. Covington said this week that organizers overruled his request to have Trump walk him out to the octagon. But Trump may still get a role if he wins.

    “He’s going to wrap that belt around me,” Covington told reporters on Thursday, wearing a suit jacket signed by Trump that featured the former president’s mug shot on the back. “It’s going to be a spectacle.”

    There is of course a long history of sports in presidential politics. Candidates have used them to project an image of strength and vigor, endear themselves to voters and seem more accessible.

    Presidential historian Michael Beschloss wrote about how Theodore Roosevelt was frequently pictured boxing, horseback riding and hiking, while John Kennedy swam, sailed and played touch despite serious injuries sustained during the war. Richard Nixon “went to great lengths” to emphasize his football and baseball fandom as he tried to court working-class voters, while George W. Bush famously threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the first World Series game in New York after 9/11, trying to signal to nervous Americans that life would go on after the terror attack.

    Trump’s team sees the appearances as a way to connect with sports fans, signaling he shares their interests, and a way to showcase a different side of the combative politician, who has been indicted four times and is usually shown on the news railing from behind a rally lectern. They also hope to capitalize on his history as a celebrity and his relationships with business and entertainment figures.

    When Trump attends an event like Saturday’s fight, “The audience gets to see him through an unvarnished filter that isn’t tainted by news media and political biases,” said his spokesman Steven Cheung, who previously worked for UFC himself. “It gives us the great opportunity to connect with voters who are, quite frankly, turned off by many traditional news outlets.”

    Jeffrey Montez de Oca, a professor of sociology and the founding director of the Center for Critical Sport Studies at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, said politicians “use sports all the time and they’re used to connect with regular people,” as well as to “project strength and power.”

    Sports, he said, generate “powerful emotions” that take hold of fans and “make you feel like you’re a part of something much larger than yourself” — emotions that politicians try to harness.

    “For Trump to walk into that space, he’s able to participate in the general feeling going on in that room. The love, the enthusiasm, the feeling of connection with the sport, with the athletes, then attaches to him as well,” he said.

    Kyle Kusz, a University of Rhode Island professor who studies the connection between sports and the far right, recalled how Trump aligned himself with sports figures during his 2016 campaign, appearing with basketball coach Bobby Knight, who was fired for abusive behavior, and invoking Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who was fired in connection with the child sex abuse scandal involving his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, among others facing scandal. He noted all were white men whose diehard fans saw them as unfairly victimized.

    Sports stars in 2016 were among the few celebrities willing to campaign with Trump, who was shunned by the Hollywood establishment.

    This time, Trump’s appearances are part of a broader effort by the former president’s team to engage with non-traditional media outlets, including YouTube shows and podcasts like “UFC Unfiltered” that can drive millions of views. The appearances allow Trump to reach listeners who may be turned off by the mainstream media and politics, and get their news from alternative sources.

    They have also tried to harness the power of social media by creating their own viral moments. His team realized early on that video of Trump interacting with supporters had particular traction, and now often organizes stops where he has passed out Blizzards at Dairy Queen or tossed autographed footballs into the crowd at a frat house in Iowa.

    The scenes have also provided a contrast, first with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, once seen as Trump’s leading primary rival, who is often criticized for seeming wooden and awkward at public events, and now with President Joe Biden as both men gear up for a widely expected general election rematch. Biden has largely eschewed campaign events, holding just a single rally, his campaign launch event.

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  • Florida school board may seek ouster of Moms for Liberty co-founder over Republican sex scandal

    Florida school board may seek ouster of Moms for Liberty co-founder over Republican sex scandal

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    SARASOTA, Fla. — A co-founder of the conservative Moms for Liberty group could move a step closer to getting ousted from a Florida school board on Tuesday, as she is embroiled in the fallout of a sexual assault investigation into her husband, the Republican Party state chairman.

    The Sarasota County School Board cannot directly remove Bridget Ziegler from the panel but was set to vote on a resolution requesting that she step down. The resolution was authored by board Chair Karen Rose, who said in an email that she is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the rape allegations involving Ziegler’s husband, Christian Ziegler, and the couple’s admissions about having a three-way sexual encounter previously with the accuser.

    “I personally care about Bridget and her family and deeply regret the necessity for this course of action, but given the intense media scrutiny locally and nationally, her continued presence on the Board would cause irreparably harmful distractions to our critical mission,” Rose wrote.

    Bridget Ziegler has served on the board since 2014, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, and has previously been its chair. She did not respond to email messages seeking comment about the resignation resolution, which is on the board’s agenda for a Tuesday evening meeting.

    The Sarasota Police Department is investigating a woman’s accusation that Christian Ziegler raped her at her apartment in October. Police documents say the Zieglers and the woman had planned a sexual threesome that day, but Bridget Ziegler was unable to make it. The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her, according to the documents.

    Christian Ziegler has not been charged with any crime and maintains his innocence, contending the encounter was consensual. Scott, Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida Republicans have called on him to step down as GOP chair, but he has refused to do so.

    In a recent message to Florida Republicans, Christian Ziegler said he would remain as chair “because we have a country to save and I am not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission on the bench as I wait for this process to wrap up.”

    Christian Ziegler’s lawyer, Derek Byrd, said in an email Monday he is “hoping (the) investigation is closed soon.” A Sarasota Police Department spokesperson said there is no timetable for the probe to conclude.

    Bridget Ziegler has long been active in conservative politics. She was a champion of the DeSantis-backed law known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay,” which restricts teaching of sexual and gender material in early school grades. Moms for Liberty, which she co-founded in 2021, aims to inject more conservative viewpoints in schools, restrict transgender rights, battle pandemic mask mandates and remove books they object to from school classrooms and libraries.

    In addition, DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that oversees Walt Disney World’s operations. That panel — which replaced one controlled by Disney — was created by the Legislature at DeSantis’ request after Disney objected to the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The board currently is the subject of state and federal lawsuits over control of the huge theme park outside Orlando.

    Democrats and other critics say the Zieglers are hypocritical because the alleged sexual activities are completely at odds with the conservative views they push on others, particularly LGBTQ people.

    “The Zieglers have made a habit out of attacking anything they perceive as going against ‘family values,’ be it reproductive rights or the existence of LGBTQ+ Floridians,” state Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement. “The level of hypocrisy in this situation is stunning.”

    The state GOP has called a meeting for Sunday in Orlando to discuss Christian Ziegler’s future as party chair.

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  • Ex-Nashville mayor to run for GOP-held US House seat, seeking a political return years after scandal

    Ex-Nashville mayor to run for GOP-held US House seat, seeking a political return years after scandal

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry on Wednesday announced a Democratic run for the U.S. House seat held by Republican Rep. Mark Green, seeking a political comeback more than five years after the fallout from an extramarital affair cut her tenure short.

    In an announcement video, Barry cited several reasons for trying to return to elected office — a spate of mass shootings at schools, including earlier this year at a Nashville Christian elementary school; Tennessee’s abortion ban; the closure of rural hospitals; and the opioid epidemic.

    Barry is running in one of three congressional districts that carved up Nashville during Republican-led redistricting last year. Due to line-drawing efforts by Republican state lawmakers that favor their own party, the GOP last year won another seat that previously centered on Nashville and was long held by Democrats. Barry is running as a Democrat, campaign spokesperson Brian Córdova confirmed.

    “I look at the total dysfunction in Congress and its failure to make any kind of difference in the lives of our families,” Barry said. “It’s outrageous. We don’t have to tolerate it.”

    Barry opened her House campaign by mentioning her mistakes without rehashing the details. Once a rising star and leader of a booming Democratic-leaning city from 2015 to 2018, Barry resigned in March 2018 after pleading guilty to felony theft for cheating the city out of thousands of dollars to carry on an affair with her then-police bodyguard. She agreed to reimburse taxpayers $11,000 and had her record expunged after completing probation.

    Barry said she took responsibility and worked through it with her husband.

    “I don’t think anybody should be defined by their worst moments,” Barry said. “It’s what you do next that counts.”

    Barry’s announcement also focuses on the death of her only child, Max, in July 2017 after an overdose on a combination of drugs, including opioids. Since leaving office, Barry has widely shared her son’s story in an effort to combat shame and stigma surrounding substance abuse disorders.

    Barry will try to make inroads in a district that extends out of Nashville and into 13 Republican-favoring counties. Last year, Green won his third term in Congress over a Democratic opponent by nearly 22 percentage points. Voters in that district favored former President Donald Trump over President Joe Biden by 15 percentage points in 2020.

    Tennessee’s congressional map is facing a federal lawsuit, but that case isn’t scheduled to go to trial until April 2025.

    As a metro councilmember, Barry officiated the city’s first gay marriage before being elected in 2015. She pushed for tremendous growth, helping shape an ever-changing skyline of construction cranes and new high-rises. She also spearheaded a successful effort to bring professional soccer to Nashville. She was one of the biggest proponents of a transit referendum with light rail, which voters rejected in an election after Barry’s resignation.

    Green, who served as an Army surgeon and is from Montgomery County, has attacked Democrats on topics ranging from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to immigration. He has climbed the House ranks to serve as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. Green once was nominated by Trump to become the Army secretary, but in 2017 withdrew his nomination due to criticisms over his remarks about Muslims and LGBTQ+ Americans.

    After Barry’s announcement, Green’s team said he is “honored to serve and looks forward to continuing to fight for our values and principles,” mentioning securing the border, health care and “constitutional rights.”

    “From three tours in combat, to the emergency room, to public service, Congressman Green has always put his fellow American before himself,” Green’s chief of staff, Stephen Siao, said in a written statement.

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