investigation

Donald Trump & Stormy Daniels: Manhattan DA Launches Grand Jury Probe Regarding Hush Money

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As he gears up for this third-ever presidential run, Donald Trump is facing no shortage of legal woes. Over the past few years, the reality TV star has been caught up in scandal after scandal. From classified documents being found at his Mar-a-Lago residence to his past friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, the drama never ends.

On Monday (January 30), a report from the New York Times broke the news that things for the politician are looking bleaker. Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office are presenting evidence to a recently put-together jury.

Stormy Daniels attends the 2019 XBIZ Awards on January 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for XBIZ Awards)

The investigation is regarding the “hush money” that Trump previously gave to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Several years ago, the 76-year-old wanted his former lover to keep quiet about their extramarital affairs prior to the 2016 election.

According to today’s breaking news, a witness who helped arrange the controversial monetary agreement was seen in New York today. The building he entered is the same one that the grand jury has been meeting in.

Additionally, Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, sat with prosecutors in recent weeks. As The Independent notes, the attorney was previously personally responsible for delivering Daniels her payments. He was later indicted on federal charges affiliated with the scheme.

Cohen plead guilty and spent time in federal prison. However, he was later released to home confinement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I participated in this conduct, which on my part took place in Manhattan, for the principal purpose of influencing the election” for president in 2016,” Trump’s co-conspirator said at the time.

The city’s DA, Alvin Bragg, is presently laying the groundwork to seek an indictment for Trump. A decision regarding the twice-impeached public figure’s future is said to be coming “soon.”

Potential criminal charges will likely depend on whether the father of five falsified business records to disguise payments to Cohen as compensation for services.

Elsewhere, Trump’s name has been coming up a lot in connection with Joe Biden’s classified documents scandal. The New Yorker has been openly mocking his fellow politician on his Truth social platform, despite having committed the same troubling acts himself.

Read everything Donald had to say about POTUS here. Afterward, let us know if you think the famous blonde will wind up behind bars in the near future below.

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Southwest Under Investigation Over Holiday Travel Disaster, $220M Loss

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The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating the Southwest Airlines holiday travel fiasco that left thousands of travelers stranded for days. The investigation was brought on by the airlines report of their $220 million dollar loss in the first quarter. 

A colossal winter storm forced Southwest to cancel more than 16,700 flights over several days in late December. However, this is only true for initial cancellations and others were caused by the company’s outdated software systems. 

The cancellations caused an uproar from passengers who inspired a media frenzy that called on the airline to take accountability for the debacle and be transparent. 

The department’s investigation will investigate whether Southwest made unrealistic flight schedules, “which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice,” according to a department spokesperson.

“DOT has made clear to Southwest that it must provide timely refunds and reimbursements and will hold Southwest accountable if it fails to do so,” the department spokesperson added.

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Bob Jordan, Southwest’s  president and chief executive officer said the flight cancellations cost the company nearly $800 million. Around half of those losses were a direct result of flight cancellations, while the other half comes from compensating customers who bought tickets on other airlines and dispensing extra frequent flier points, which are worth about $300 per passenger. 

In the report announcing the losses, Jordan dished out apologies to customers and employees, saying the company has “swiftly taken steps to bolster our operational resilience and are undergoing a detailed review of the December events.”

A full scale boycott of Southwest has not transpired, but weary traveler fright and previous timelines have resulted in fewer bookings. Although reports of booking trends reflect improvement,  the company is expected to lose over $300 million in revenue in the first quarter. 

The post Southwest Under Investigation Over Holiday Travel Disaster, $220M Loss appeared first on The Source.

Andrew Tate Sparks Concern With “Matrix” Tweet Following Hospital Visit From Jail

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Since Andrew Tate and Greta Thunberg found themselves in the midst of a Twitter feud late last year, the controversial figure’s name has been constantly circulating in the media. As you may recall, his video response to the young activist allowed for authorities to confirm his location and subsequently place him under arrest.

Initially, it was thought that the reality star would remain in custody for a few hours. Now, though, it seems it could be weeks before he sees potential freedom. Both Andrew and his brother Tristan were apprehended and charged with human trafficking, along with a few other men.

As Newsweek notes, the Tate brothers are facing accusations of coercing six women into producing pornography. Their alleged victims were faced with “acts of physical violence and mental coercion.” We presently know that one of the accused is additionally facing sexual assault charges, though it remains unclear who.

While the world awaits answers, an interesting tweet appeared on the podcaster’s account yesterday (January 8). “The Matrix has attacked me,” he wrote. “But they misunderstand, you cannot kill an idea. Hard to Kill.”

Beneath his words, Tate included an article to a Romanian website, SpyNews, with an update on his health. The story explains that one of the siblings has already been to the hospital since their December 29 arrest.

“Yesterday he was taken out of the Central Prison of the Capital Police and taken to a hospital because when he was incarcerated, according to the procedures. He was given a medical examination and the prison doctor asked him if he was suffering from certain ailments,” local journalist Carmina Pricopie reported.

She went on to say, “The attorney for the Tate brothers notified the central detention center and stated that he had certain medical problems. Based on this notification, yesterday he was taken to a specialist consultation in a hospital in the capital.”

Since his field trip outside of the detention centre, the 36-year-old is said to have returned to his holding cell.

The latest reports on the situation come from the Independent. They say that Tate’s attorney is claiming there’s “no evidence for trafficking or sexual assault charges” against the brothers. Additionally, he alleges that the criminal investigation file has “not been made available to [them].”

Check out Twitter’s reaction to Andrew Tate’s December arrest here. Make sure to check back later for more pop culture news updates.

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Bryan Kohberger Update: Alleged Killer Seen Throwing Trash In Neighbour’s Bins Before Arrest

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Now that he’s back in Idaho and has attended his first hearing, more details regarding the arrest of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger are coming out. Needless to say, they’re as chilling as many anticipated. However, authorities still aren’t able to paint a full picture for the public.

At the end of 2022, the criminology student was apprehended by the FBI in Pennsylvania. At this time, he’s the only known suspect in the murder of four young University of Idaho students.

In this handout provided by Monroe County Correctional Facility, 28-year-old Bryan Christopher Kohberger is seen in a booking photo after he was arrested on December 30, 2022 in Pennsylvania. Kohberger has been accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students – Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 – in an off-campus house on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. (Photo by Monroe County Correctional Facility via Getty Images)

As we previously reported, Kohberger and his father drove home from Idaho to Washington for the holidays. During their trip, the duo was stopped twice by Indiana state police. At this time, it’s believed these were planned pullovers to obtain more information on the suspect without spooking him.

According to CNN, authorities also kept watch over their target when he arrived at his parent’s house. A law enforcement source tells the outlet that investigators witnessed as he “cleaned his car, inside and outside, not missing an inch.”

The team assigned to Kohberger was tasked with keeping an eye on him until a warrant was obtained. Additionally, they had to gather an item that could be used to collect a DNA sample.

Officers saw the suspect numerous times outside in Pennsylvania, often wearing surgical gloves. At one point, he headed outside around 4 AM and put trash bags in his neighbours’ bins. They then collected garbage from both the family home and Kohberger’s backup spot and sent it off to the Idaho State Lab.

Last Friday (December 30), a local SWAT team moved in on the family home. Both the door and windows were broken down in what’s known as a “dynamic entry” that’s typically only used with “high-risk” suspects.

After a long trip across the country via plane, Kohberger appeared in Idaho court yesterday (January 5). The previous night, he was booked into the Latah County jail on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

He is facing the death penalty, which some of the victim’s parents have already said they support.

Read the latest updates on Bryan Kohberger’s affidavit here, and check back later for more updates. RIP.

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Finesse2Tymes Concert Shooting Leaves 3 Injured

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Finesse2tymes had plans to start 2023 in a big way, though they obviously didn’t go as planned. On the evening of Sunday (January 1), he was performing in Knoxville, Tennessee, when a shooting took place in the audience.

As WREG reports, three attendees obtained injuries as a result of the gunfire. Thankfully, though, authorities have confirmed that they’re non-life-threatening and were able to receive treatment at UT Medical Center.

Prior to the concert, Finesse got his followers excited on Instagram with a promotional post. “KNOXVILLE TN!! WE FINNA TURN IT UP UH NOTCH!! IT’S GOIN DOWN TONIGHT!!” he wrote in the caption.

While the crowd was certainly turnt up, it’s believed that an altercation broke out as the rapper was on stage. Shortly after, shots were fired. Attendee Kierra Daughtry tells the outlet, “As soon as the shots happened, everybody dropped their drinks… Within a split second, there was [almost] nobody in that building.”

She later added, “For a second, it really did like we were about to get shot, like, we were very close.”

Authorities responded to the call from My Canna Buds around 2:20 AM on Monday (January 2) morning. A spokesperson for the local police department says that at this time, numerous individuals are believed to have fired shots.

Multiple weapons were also recovered at the scene. Additionally, several witnesses and possible suspects were detained as the investigation progresses.

No other details have been made available at this time, though police are asking anyone with information to contact the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers.

Finesse2Tymes visits SiriusXM Studios on November 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

In other news, Finesse2tymes recently spoke with us following the arrival of his 90 Days project. At the time, he got real about how his time behind bars impacted him, his musical influences, and big plans for the future.

Read all that the rising rapper had to say here, and check back later for any updates on the Knoxville concert shooting.

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Bryan Kohberger’s Family Speaks Out Following Alleged Killers Arrest

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There were several weeks without any updates in the gruesome University of Idaho murders last November. Now, information is once again coming en masse. Following the arrest of Bryan Kohberger on Friday (December 30), authorities have asked the public to continue sending in any information they may have about the suspect.

For the most part, many accounts from fellow students paint the accused killer as awkward but intense. He studied criminology at DeSales University and was working towards a Ph.D. in the same subject at Washington State University. The school is located just a few miles from Moscow, Idaho.

In response to the very public scrutiny of Kohberger, his family has sent out a press release. “First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel. We pray each day for them,” the statement obtained by TMZ reads.

“[We’ll] continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother. We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.”

They add, “We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process.”

During their initial press conference last week, Moscow Police were open with the public. They shared that it may take some time before all the facts in this case can become public knowledge.

Much of the investigation was kept under wraps. This allowed the FBI and local cops to operate under the radar and maintain integrity. Now, they’re waiting for Kohberger to be extradited from Pennsylvania, where he was arrested, back to Idaho. At that time, more information will come out.

This can sometimes be a lengthy process. However, the accused killer’s attorney tells TMZ that his client is unlikely to fight extradition. This means that he would return to Latah County within the coming days and enter a plea.

Jason LaBar also says that Kohberger has neither admitted nor denied his charges. However, his client does feel as though he’ll be exonerated, suggesting he believes he’s innocent.

Check back in with HNHH later for any updates on the investigation. RIP.

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Bryan Kohberger, Alleged Idaho Killer, Described As “Quiet But Intense” By Fellow Students

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In wake of Bryan Kohberg’s identity finally coming to light, more information about the alleged University of Idaho killer is circulating. Following Friday’s (December 30) arrest, the former Ph.D. student’s classmates have been speaking out about their experiences with him.

As TMZ reports, the 28-year-old reportedly had a more “animated” attitude in class after carrying out the heinous murders. He was studying criminology in a graduate program at Washington State University. Previously, he earned a degree in criminal justice from DeSales University in Pennsylvania.

Speaking with the New York Times, fellow student B.K. Norton told the outlet that he “quickly noticed some red flags” in the time after the killings that weren’t as obvious earlier in the semester. “[Bryan] seemed more upbeat and willing to carry a conversation,” they recalled.

In their email, they additionally stated that Kohberger’s interests were leaning heavily toward forensic psychology. His demeanour is “quiet, but intense,” and apparently makes those around him uncomfortable. It’s also been said that he made remarks about being obviously anti-LGBTQ.

“He sort of creeped people out because he stared and didn’t talk much, but when he did it was very intelligent and he needed everyone to know he was smart,” Norton’s character statement claims.

At this time, many details regarding the deaths of Xana, Ethan, Kaylee, and Madison remain unknown. The Moscow Police Department hosted a press conference yesterday, at which time they answered questions in as much detail as possible.

Presently, Kohberger remains in Pennsylvania where he was arrested. The plan is to extradite him back to Idaho, where further proceedings can piece together the gruesome story.

Authorities have asked the public to continue to submit tips, even with the suspect charged and in custody. They’re looking for any piece of information that can bring justice to the victim’s families.

Read what the Moscow PD had to say on Friday here. RIP.

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Doja Cat Receives Death Threat After Tinychat Bullying Accusations: Report

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One thing that seemingly always lands Doja Cat in a pot of boiling hot water, is spending time in online chat rooms. A few years ago she faced severe backlash for allegedly engaging in alt-right and racist activities across these internet hangouts. However, she vehemently denied those claims at the time.

“I want to address what’s been happening on Twitter. I’ve used public chat rooms to socialize since I was a child. I shouldn’t have been on some of those chat room sites. I personally have never been involved in any racist conversations. I’m sorry to everyone that I offended,” the Planet Her hitmaker wrote.

Additionally, she added, “I’m a Black woman. Half of my family is black from South Africa. I’m very proud of where I come from… I understand my influence and impact and I’m taking this all very seriously. I love you all and I’m sorry for upsetting or hurting any of you. That’s not my character, and I’m determined to show that to everybody moving forward. Thank you.”

While much of 2022 found her focusing on her eyebrows and bold fashion statements, it seems Doja is closing out the year by spending time on Tinychat. As HipHopDX reports, footage of the performer surfaced online earlier this week. It came from an unverified participant who later shared it on social media.

“Not only has Doja Cat been going into this chat room, this is her right here. The owner gave her admin. She bans, kicks and bullies the shit out of me in the chat,” they explained to readers.

Aside from accusations of bullying, it seems her time on Tinychat also led the California native to receive a death threat. While it remains unclear if the person who posted the clip and who allegedly verbally attacked her are the same, they were both seemingly mad about DC kicking them out of the space.

TMZ reports that Doja gave the man the boot when he began acting weird. He somehow entered again, and at this point, reportedly threatened to kill her and said he would “see her soon.” Afterward, the singer called the cops, who promptly took a report for a criminal threat.

Doja Cat attends ELLE Women in Music Celebrates Doja Cat presented by Dolce & Gabbana at Olivetta on June 09, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for ELLE Magazine)

The Los Angeles County Sheriff continues to investigate. No further updates are available at this time, but check back later for more pop culture updates.

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University of Idaho Murder Suspect Arrested in Pennsylvania

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A suspect in connection with the slayings of four University of Idaho students has been taken into custody law enforcement sources said Friday. 28-year-old Bryan Christopher Kohberger was arrested and arraigned in Monroe County of northeastern Pennsylvania. Court records show the judge ordered his extradition back to Idaho. 

The November 13 killings in an off-campus home presented as the first murders in Moscow, Idaho in seven years. The news permeated fear, sadness, and confusion rattling the small town, especially as updates in the investigation came about slowly.  

The arrest in the fatal stabbing case was made by Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI. At 4pm EST police in Moscow, Idaho, a news conference is scheduled to announce new developments in the case. The arrest of Kohberger comes just one day after police said they have received about 20,000 tips through more than 9,025 emails, 4,575 phone calls, and 6,050 digital media submissions, while having conducted over 300 interviews.

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Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Arizona; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho, were likely asleep when they were stabbed multiple times in the morning hours of Nov. 13. 

A Hyundai Elantra was taken away from the suspects home, a short distance from the victims house, in Pennsylvania on Friday, law enforcement sources said. Officials report that the nature of the case is complex in nature due to analysis of the crime scene and the previous parties the house hosted. 

Moscow Police Chief James Fry declined to speak in detail about the case to protect the integrity of the investigation and keep the jury pool clean in case of investigation. Fry said, “I know that’s very frustrating. It’s frustrating to family members and [the] community, but our end goal is to bring somebody to justice for those families and for those victims.”

The site of the killings will be cleaned up, but will remain a crime scene. The funeral for roommates Goncalves and Mogen, are planned to take place later Friday evening.

The post University of Idaho Murder Suspect Arrested in Pennsylvania appeared first on The Source.

Southwest Airlines Under Investigation After Mass Flight Cancellations Impacting Thousands

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The holidays are typically a time of cheer. Unfortunately, this year that wasn’t the case for those stuck at airports due to flight cancellations. In particular, those travelling with Southwest Airlines were hit the hardest.

As Complex reports, after upwards of 2,500 flights were cancelled on Tuesday (December 27), the U.S. Department of Transportation made the executive decision to step in. “USDOT is concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays. [Also the] reports of lack of prompt customer service,” they wrote on Twitter yesterday evening.

“The Department will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan,” they additionally went on to note.

On Monday, Southwest shut down nearly 3,000, or approximately 70%, of its scheduled flights. “We’re working with Safety at the forefront to urgently address wide-scale disruption by rebalancing the airline and repositioning Crews and our fleet ultimately to best serve all who plan to travel with us,” their subsequent statement read.

“We were fully staffed and prepared for the approaching holiday weekend when the severe weather swept across the continent, where Southwest is the largest carrier in 23 of the top 25 travel markets in the U.S. These operational conditions forced daily changes to our flight schedule at a volume and magnitude that still has the tools our teams use to recover the airline operating at capacity.”

LPassengers check the monitors at Long Beach Airport as Southwest Airlines has canceled hundreds of flights, departing from airports across Southern California including Long Beach on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images)

Half of the cancellations on Boxing Day were Southwest flights. Following behind them was Delta, whose second-place spot saw them shutting down a total of 265 flights.

Thousands remain in airports, with little to no customer service or aid available for them. Apps like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram are full of storytimes from those spending their Christmas in an airport.

Check back in later for any updates on the Southwest Airlines investigation.

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