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BREAKING: Diddy Taken Into FBI Field Office In NYC

September 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Sean 'Diddy' Combs Rebrands Combs Enterprises to Combs Global as Business Portfolio Expands

According to several confirmed reports, Bad Boy mogul Sean “Dddy” Combs has been taken into federal custody in New York today(September 16). Reports state that the troubled music exec was taken into the FBI field office in Manhattan.

The detainment is reportedly connected to the ongoing federal investigation into alleged sex trafficking that led to the FBI and ATF raids on his Los Angeles and Miami mansions earlier this summer.

Marc Agnifilo, attorney for Combs, stated to TMZ, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.” Agnifilo adeds, “He is an imperfect person but is not criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

TheSource.com will update this story as more details develop.

The post BREAKING: Diddy Taken Into FBI Field Office In NYC first appeared on The Source.

The post BREAKING: Diddy Taken Into FBI Field Office In NYC appeared first on The Source.

Diddy Taken into Federal Custody in New York

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Diddy Says 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' After New Lawsuit

Diddy is in federal custody in New York City. According to TMZ, the Bad Boy mogul was taken into the FBI field office in Manhattan.

The feds reportedly nabbed Diddy in association with the criminal investigation of alleged sex trafficking and possible additional crimes that led to searches of his Miami and Beverly Hills homes.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Diddy’s attorney, March Agnifio, said to TMZ. “Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.

“He is an imperfect person but Is not criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Just last week, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team responded to a recent lawsuit filed against him by singer-songwriter Dawn Richard, alleging physical abuse and sexual assault. In a statement to Complex, Diddy is “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit, describing it as a “manufactured series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a payday.”

The lawsuit, reported by TMZ, accuses Diddy of harassment and sexual abuse. Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money, alleges a pattern of abusive behavior between 2009 and 2011. She claims he once forced her to rehearse for 48 hours straight, resulting in severe weight loss, fatigue, and dehydration. Richard also recalled an instance when, during a visit to Diddy’s Miami home, he greeted her wearing only his underwear and refused to dress.

The accusations extend further. Richard alleged Diddy forcibly entered her dressing room and groped her. In another incident, she claims he locked her in a car and was only released her after her father traveled from Baltimore to New York to confront Diddy. During the confrontation, Richard says Diddy warned her father, “Think about your daughter and think about your daughter’s career.”

The lawsuit also references an incident involving Cassie, in which Richard claims she witnessed Diddy violently throwing Cassie against a wall, choking her, and dragging her upstairs at his Los Angeles home while under the influence of drugs. She also alleges an incident when Diddy threw a hot pan of eggs at Cassie.

Richard claims that when she and her Diddy – Dirty Money bandmate Kalenna Harper advised Cassie to leave Diddy, he retaliated. Allegedly, he told them, “Y’all bitches don’t get in my relationship … Just make money and shut the fuck up,” and threatened their lives, stating, “I shelve careers … You could be missing … You bitches want to die today.”

Diddy’s legal team released a full statement to Complex:

“Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour. If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album last year. It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court.”

The post Diddy Taken into Federal Custody in New York first appeared on The Source.

The post Diddy Taken into Federal Custody in New York appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Barrios vs. Ramos Added To Netflix & MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson Mega-Event

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the addition of an electrifying WBC Welterweight Championship bout, with reigning champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) set to defend his title against Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs). The 12-round WBC Welterweight Championship bout will take place on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano super event on Friday, November 15, 2024. Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history, and fans can purchase tickets now at seatgeek.com.

Mario “El Azteca” Barrios is a rising star in the world of boxing, known for his fierce fighting style and deep connection to his Mexican heritage. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Mario was introduced to the sport at age six by his mother, Isabel Soto, who took him and his sister Selina to a local gym. Inspired by his cultural roots, Barrios embraced the moniker “El Azteca,” a tribute to the rich history and warrior spirit of the Aztec civilization, reflecting both his pride in his Mexican heritage and his relentless pursuit of greatness inside the ring.

He captured his first world title in 2019, defeating Batyr Akhmedov in a thrilling fight. Barrios later moved up to welterweight, where he faced top contenders, including a memorable bout against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2021. Barrios, the WBC Welterweight champion and former WBA World Super Lightweight Champion, was also recently rumored to be a potential opponent for Manny Pacquiao. He now returns to the ring after securing a dominant victory over Fabian Andres Maidana in his last outing as the co-main event of Canelo vs. Munguia.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Mario Barrios. “The fight on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card is huge, with millions watching live on Netflix. Abel Ramos is a tough Mexican fighter, just like me, so I know it’ll be a hell of a fight in front of my Texas people at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium. I’m also excited to showcase my Indigenous roots on this global platform. Don’t miss this fight—it’s going to be war, Puro San Antonio!”

Abel Ramos, a relentless welterweight contender from Casa Grande, Arizona, is known for his thrilling battles and relentless determination in the ring. Guided by his family’s boxing legacy, Ramos began his amateur career at 13, earning accolades such as placing third in the National Golden Gloves and and won bronze at US Nationals in 2010. Transitioning to the professional ranks in 2011, he quickly built a reputation for his power and resilience, taking on formidable opponents like Ivan Baranchyk and Regis Prograis. This will be Ramos’ second world title opportunity after a SD loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2020. Ramos’s most dramatic victory came in 2020 with a last-second knockout against Bryant Perrella.

“I’m very excited to be fighting for the WBC title and I’m looking forward to a great fight against Mario Barrios,” said Abel Ramos. “He’s a warrior just like me and I’m going to give the fans at Cowboys Stadium and those watching around the world on Netflix an exciting fight on Friday, November 15th.”

“On Mexican Independence Day I am thrilled to announce the addition of Mario “El Azteca” Barrios to what I believe will be the most globally consumed boxing event since the advent of pay-per-view,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos for the WBC Welterweight Championship will be an action packed fight that will fully embody the Mexican style of boxing and bring fans to their feet. Viva Mexico!”

Barrios vs Ramos joins Netflix and MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson mega-event, which will also feature as the co-main event, the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history between Matchroom’s undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), and boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs). This will mark Taylor and Serrano’s long-awaited rematch following their historic bout at Madison Square Garden in 2022, where they made history as the first-ever women fighters to headline an event in the iconic venue’s history. The women’s undisputed mega-fight will be contested across 10, two-minute rounds, Serrano’s only break from fighting 12×3, the men’s championship standard, for the remainder of her career. India’s number one boxer and MVP’s first international signee, Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs), will also make his MVP debut against Brazil’s multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes, who holds a cumulative 2-2-1 record in his boxing career with 1 KO, in a professional 6-round super middleweight bout contested at 165 lbs.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Barrios vs. Ramos Added To Netflix & MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson Mega-Event first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Barrios vs. Ramos Added To Netflix & MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson Mega-Event appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Mets’ Lindor Out Of Lineup Again After Playing For One Inning In Last Game Against Phils

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Mets are remaining optimistic going into their seven-game homestead against the Phillies and the Nationals after a nail biting loss against Philadelphia during the same game that Francisco Lindor was taken out due to an ongoing back injury. According to Lindor himself, he might be on the bench for what “could be three to five days” at the most crucial point in the Mets’ season.

Even though the prognosis of the 30-year-old shortstop isn’t deemed “too serious”, Lindor underwent MRI imaging after being taken out of Sunday’s game to determine the damage done to his lower back. Even though the results show no structural damage to his back, Lindor was left out of Monday’s lineup against Washington, with second baseman Jose Iglesias moving over to shortstop and taking Lindor’s leadoff spot in the batting order.

“I still have a little bit of pain, but we had good news,” Lindor said. “Everything seems like it’s good, it could be three to five days, or it could be two to three — depends on how my back reacts.”

He added, “I felt fine, I felt good — it wasn’t like a freak accident where I reinjured it. It just got tight on me. I just felt like I could play through it. And the next thing you know, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to stay on the field. When I can’t stay on the field to do what I love most, which is play defense, that’s when I said something. When I was a little timid on the ground balls.”

Team doctors agree that Lindo doesn’t need an injection in his back, so Lindor is hoping to be back before the end of the regular season.

“Honestly, relief. Really good news,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “… I think we got the best news. Like [Lindor] said, it could be three to five [days], two to three, who knows? But the hope is that he’ll be a player for us before the year is over. So, I was expecting the worst to be honest.”

Recruited recently from Syracuse AAA-affiliate, Luisangel Acuna will be interchanging with Iglesias at shortstop until Lindor’s return. As Mets’ “ironman”, Lindor playing in all games of the regular season until today(September 16) has positively impacted the Mets’ chances at a Wild Card spot. With a three-game series ahead of New York vs. the Nationals followed by four games against Philly, the Mets’ postseason future will be determined this week at Citi Field.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Mets’ Lindor Out Of Lineup Again After Playing For One Inning In Last Game Against Phils first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Mets’ Lindor Out Of Lineup Again After Playing For One Inning In Last Game Against Phils appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: EPMD Dropped Their Fifth LP ‘Back In Business’ 27 Years Ago

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Albumism EPMD BackInBusiness MainImage 2x1

On this date in 1999, one of Hip Hop’s greatest duos of all time, Erick and Parrish Making Dollars, released their fifth full length studio album Back In Business on Def Jam. EPMD were making stellar albums together since Hip Hop’s “Golden Era” and were actually the artists who appeared on the very first copy of The Source Magazine. So this album was actually a bittersweet one, being that Erick, who had now launched Def Squad while PMD maintained the Hit Squad banner, the two put out this album after feuding for the previous three years.

Getting back to their regularly scheduled program, EPMD did most of their own production and, of course, had Grandmaster DJ Scratch, contribute behind the boards along with newcomers Agallah and Rockwilder. Guest appearances included guest appearances from Def Squad members Keith Murray and Redman, while Hit Squad member Das EFX made an appearance on one track.

The album’s only standout track was the radio friendly “Da Joint”, which is partially why the album didn’t receive the critical acclaim that was given to their previous four projects. For the first time in their career, the “Brothers from Brentwood” underdelivered to their fans and most believed that their deliberate hiatus created a disconnect that couldn’t go unnoticed.

Salute to Erick, Parrish, Redman, Keith Murray, DJ Scratch, Rockwilder, Agallah and everyone else involved in this important piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: EPMD Dropped Their Fifth LP ‘Back In Business’ 27 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: EPMD Dropped Their Fifth LP ‘Back In Business’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Haute Living Celebrates 50 Cent with Intimate NYC Dinne

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Haute Living Celebrates Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson

Haute Living celebrated its September cover star 50 Cent with an intimate dinner at the Hudson Club in NYC on Monday, September 9. New York-based artist Skott Marsi presented a painting to 50 Cent at the event with a Tiger honoring success and power, as a New Yorker to New Yorker.

The event was in partnership with Hudson Club New York. Guests sipped on Sire Spirits, Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi champagne.

The exclusive dinner hosted notable attendees including Kamal Hotchandani, CEO of Haute Media Group, Laura Schreffler, Editor-in-Chief of Haute Media Group, Lauren Mosseri, VP of Communications and Luxury Partnerships at Haute Media Group, Ellen von Unwerth, Jonathan Cheban aka Foodgod, Naeem Khan, Linn Berggren, Anne Vyalitsyna, Erica Pelosini, Eytan Sugarman, Matt Shendell, Richie Romero, Andrea Ienna, Keytt and Alex Lundqvist, and more.

“In life,” says Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who just released his novel The Accomplice, “you don’t get a second chance at a first impression. I think my first impression was big enough. I had the largest debut hip-hop album in history as I came in.”

Also sharing this little nugget from the 50 Cent Haute Living Cover Story about Eminem’s daughter’s wedding. If used, must link back to cover story.

On attending Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade’s wedding: “It was unbelievable, the wildest thing for me, period. I was like, ‘Yo, bro, this is crazy. We’re getting old. Your baby is grown. What the fuck is going on?’ I was having a moment myself over there. I told Em, ‘You said it was OK to cry, because I’m crying.’ I couldn’t believe it went that fast.”“

I wish I had a daughter. I wish I had that [father-daughter] relationship. For female children, their dad is the first man they fall in love with. Male children go to their mom; I’m a mama’s boy myself.”

CLICK HERE For the entire article.

Photo Credit: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Haute Living

The post Haute Living Celebrates 50 Cent with Intimate NYC Dinne first appeared on The Source.

The post Haute Living Celebrates 50 Cent with Intimate NYC Dinne appeared first on The Source.

SOCIALizing: Miami Heat Take Stance on “X” Against Hate And Anti Haitian Rhetoric

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

If you have been paying attention lately you’d see that Trump, JD Vance and a bunch of right wing weirdos have been straight up lying about lawful Haitian immigrants, primarily living in Springfield, Ohio. The state JD Vance is a senator. Unreal. But far from the midwest town, in Miami, Florida, where there’s huge Haitian American and immigrant community, the NBA’s Heat franchise has taken a stand against hate. They just tweeted the following:

“The Miami Heat staff, like Miami itself, is a diverse and brilliant mix of vibrant culture, including many members of our Haitian community. The false narrative surround them is hurtful and offensive and had sadly made innocent people targets of hateful speech and physical threats. Our Haitian employees, fans and friends deserve better. Ansanm nou kanpé fo.”

Engagement is solid with 1.1M Views, 6.9K Reposts, 697 Quotes, 40K Likes and 685 Bookmarks.

Check out the tweet here:

The post SOCIALizing: Miami Heat Take Stance on “X” Against Hate And Anti Haitian Rhetoric first appeared on The Source.

The post SOCIALizing: Miami Heat Take Stance on “X” Against Hate And Anti Haitian Rhetoric appeared first on The Source.

Trump Introduces Latin Music Star Nicky Jam At Rally But Says “She’s Hot” In Weird Gaffe

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Before the chaos in Florida, you might have caught what happened at a recent Las Vegas rally, where Donald Trump misgendered reggaeton star Nicky Jam while introducing him.

Look, let’s call it what it is. Trump probably had no clue who Nicky Jam was and calling him a woman and proceeding to call him (thinking he was a she) hot, is just his typical misogyny towards women in plain sight.

Specifically, Trump said, “Latin music superstar Nicky Jam. Do you know Nicky? She’s hot.” The incident occurred during a Friday event at The Expo at World Market Center.

Trump weirdly and quickly corrected himself once Nicky Jam, whose real name is Nick Rivera Caminero, approached the stage. “Oh, look, I’m glad he came up,” Trump remarked. Wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap, Nicky Jam expressed his gratitude, telling Trump, “People that come from where I come from, they don’t meet the president. So, I’m lucky. We need you. We need you back, right? We need you to be the president.”

Weird. Just plain, weird.

Nicky Jam, originally from Massachusetts and raised in Puerto Rico, is one of several reggaeton stars, including Anuel AA and Justin Quiles, who have shown support for Trump’s presidential candidacy. Despite the misgendering, Nicky Jam seemed to brush off the incident, posting a photo with Trump on Instagram with the caption, “Nicky jam la potra la bichota,” along with laughing emojis. The phrase translates loosely to “the filly, the big shot,” a Latin slang term popularized by Colombian singer Karol G in her 2020 song, “Bichota.”

Anyways not everyone was happy about Jam’s endorsement and he’s receiving plenty of fallout over the appearance at the rally.

The post Trump Introduces Latin Music Star Nicky Jam At Rally But Says “She’s Hot” In Weird Gaffe first appeared on The Source.

The post Trump Introduces Latin Music Star Nicky Jam At Rally But Says “She’s Hot” In Weird Gaffe appeared first on The Source.

2024 Football Season: NFL Week 2 Sunday Recap!

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The 2024 NFL season is in full swing and Week 2 was all business. Here’s the recap of all games. Just a reminder, Monday Night Football is tonight with the Atlanta Falcons in Philly to take on the Eagles.

Here’s the rundown from Sunday’s games:

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 23, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 17

Sam Darnold threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard pass to Justin Jefferson, leading the Vikings to a 23-17 victory. Despite injuries and turnovers, Minnesota held off the 49ers in Darnold’s first home start.

NEW YORK JETS 24, TENNESSEE TITANS 17

The Jets’ offensive line excelled in their 24-17 win over the Titans, allowing only one quarterback pressure. Aaron Rodgers took advantage of the clean pockets to throw two touchdown passes, leading the Jets to victory.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 26, CAROLINA PANTHERS 3

The Chargers routed the Panthers 26-3. Justin Herbert had a modest game but still outperformed Bryce Young, who averaged just 3.2 yards per attempt, drawing boos from the home crowd.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 23, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 20

The Seahawks edged the Patriots 23-20 in overtime. Despite a strong rushing performance from New England, Seattle’s Geno Smith connected with his receivers for 246 yards, securing the win.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 20, DETROIT LIONS 16

Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers to a 20-16 victory over the Lions, avenging last season’s playoff loss. Mayfield passed for 185 yards and a touchdown, also scoring on a designed run.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 21, NEW YORK GIANTS 18

The Commanders defeated the Giants 21-18, with Austin Seibert’s game-winning field goal. Jayden Daniels showcased his dual-threat ability, while Giants QB Daniel Jones delivered a clean but conservative performance.

GREEN BAY PACKERS 16, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 10

The Packers, led by fill-in QB Malik Willis and running back Josh Jacobs, defeated the Colts 16-10. Green Bay’s defense limited Colts QB Anthony Richardson, securing the win.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 26, BALTIMORE RAVENS 23

The Raiders handed the Ravens their first 0-2 start since 2015, winning 26-23. Gardner Minshew connected with Davante Adams and Brock Bowers in the second half to lead the Raiders to victory.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 44, DALLAS COWBOYS 19

The Saints cruised past the Cowboys 44-19, with Alvin Kamara scoring four times. Derek Carr added 250 passing yards and two touchdowns, signaling New Orleans as a strong contender.

CLEVELAND BROWNS 18, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 13

Jerry Jeudy’s standout performance helped the Browns edge the Jaguars 18-13. Jacksonville’s QB Trevor Lawrence struggled with turnovers, failing to complete a late-game comeback.

ARIZONA CARDINALS 41, LOS ANGELES RAMS 10

The Cardinals dominated the Rams 41-10, with Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. leading a high-powered offense. The Rams suffered key injuries, including Cooper Kupp, amid offensive line struggles.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 26, CINCINNATI BENGALS 25

The Chiefs narrowly defeated the Bengals 26-25, with Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal sealing the win. Despite two interceptions of Patrick Mahomes, the Bengals couldn’t overcome the defending champions.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 13, DENVER BRONCOS 6

The Steelers defeated the Broncos 13-6, as Denver rookie QB Bo Nix struggled, throwing his third interception of the season. Pittsburgh’s backup QB Justin Fields led the team to a 2-0 start.

HOUSTON TEXANS 19, CHICAGO BEARS 13

The Texans beat the Bears 19-13, with C.J. Stroud passing for 260 yards and a touchdown. Houston’s defense dominated, sacking Bears QB Caleb Williams seven times and intercepting him twice.

The post 2024 Football Season: NFL Week 2 Sunday Recap! first appeared on The Source.

The post 2024 Football Season: NFL Week 2 Sunday Recap! appeared first on The Source.

Former President Nixon Declared ‘War on Drugs’ But Privately Said Weed ‘Not Dangerous’ In Unearthed Tapes

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Well, well, well, so the guy who rubber stamped the so called ‘War on Drugs’ in 1971, did not think weed was a bad drug. Not surprising. Alright, in a newly unearthed recording from March 1973, way back in the day, former President Richard Nixon admitted that he knew marijuana was “not particularly dangerous.” Despite buddy’s role in declaring the war on drugs and rejecting a federal commission’s recommendation to decriminalize it he said:

“Let me say, I know nothing about marijuana. I know that it’s not particularly dangerous, in other words, and most of the kids are for legalizing it. But on the other hand, it’s the wrong signal at this time.” He also criticized overly harsh penalties, stating that a 30-year sentence for cannabis was “ridiculous.”

The recordings were recently discovered by Minnesota cannabis lobbyist Kurtis Hanna in a trove of materials uploaded by the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. What else is in there? One might wonder.

What’s wild is Nixon’s comments contrast sharply with his public image as a staunch opponent of drug use. In 1971, he declared drug misuse “public enemy number one” and began the war on drugs. The following year, he dismissed the recommendations of the Shafer Commission, a group he had appointed to study marijuana laws. The commission had suggested decriminalizing marijuana, arguing that “criminal law is too harsh a tool to apply to personal possession” and that the harm of marijuana use was “not great enough to justify intrusion by the criminal law into private behavior.”

Nixon ignored the commission’s findings but privately acknowledged that marijuana penalties were excessive.

In another recording the disgraced former President said:

“I have no problem that there should be an evaluation of penalties on it, and there should not be penalties that, you know, like in Texas that people get 10 years for marijuana. That’s wrong.” Despite these remarks, Nixon made it clear that he did not support full legalization, stating, “But we are not for legalization, I don’t want to encourage the drug thing.”

Hanna remarked, “President Nixon, the man who signed the bill into law to put marijuana in Schedule I, who kept it in Schedule I after the Shafer Commission report, and who created the Drug Enforcement Administration through administrative action didn’t believe marijuana was addictive or dangerous.”

What’s really disturbing is Nixon’s domestic policy advisor, John Ehrlichman, later revealed in a 1994 interview that the war on drugs was partly a political strategy to target “the anti-war left and Black people.” He stated, “By getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and Blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”

These very telling unearthed tapes shed light on Nixon’s complex and contradictory stance on marijuana, revealing that his public policy decisions were not always aligned with his private beliefs.

Who would have thunk it. Apparently Nixon did.

The post Former President Nixon Declared ‘War on Drugs’ But Privately Said Weed ‘Not Dangerous’ In Unearthed Tapes first appeared on The Source.

The post Former President Nixon Declared ‘War on Drugs’ But Privately Said Weed ‘Not Dangerous’ In Unearthed Tapes appeared first on The Source.