Letitia James, Fraud, Trump
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 16, 2023

You Mad? Trump Calls Out NY Attorney General Letitia James For ‘Smirking’ In Court

New York Attorney General Letitia James has Trump in his feels. HARD.

Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social social media platform to express his dislike of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ facial expressions.

James sat in on the civil fraud case on Nov. 14. According to Trump, she was “smirking all day long” while his legal team beefed up his defense.

“Racist A.G. Letitia James is smirking all day long from her seat in Court,” Trump wrote. “You have a (Trump-Hating!) Attorney General who’s seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages when not a single penny was lost by these banks, and that’s part of this (Unconstitutional!) Law. You can see from the reaction of A.G. James, every morning from that seat, that she is enjoying this, enjoying it a bit too much.”

https://twitter.com/Democracy1stE/status/1724430361113829798

Spectators who sat in on the trial claim Trump was visibly irritated with James’ presence, who rested her case Nov. 15. As his son Donald Trump, Jr. was set to provide his testimony when courtroom cameras panned to get a glimpse of James looking satisfied.

The now-four-time indicted businessman has attacked James for what he described as unfairly targeting him for politically motivated purposes. Judge Arthur Engoron found the Trump Organization and the leadership team liable for fraud before the trial started. Things have gotten so heated between Trump, James and Engoron that, according to Fox News, the judge had to implement a gag order against the former president after he lashed out against the court publicly.

On Nov. 6, James spoke to the media, saying the defendants’ actions were predictable, but she won’t be silenced.

“He rambled, he hurled insults—but we expected that,” James said. “Mr. Trump obviously can engage in all of these distractions…and engaging in name-calling. But I will not be bullied. I will not be harassed. This case will go on.”

Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, sat in on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures to take jabs at James, accusing her of having political motives behind her Trump attacks.

“Mrs. James wanted a headline. She campaigned on this, remember, before she was even the attorney general,” Habba said. “That’s how she got the attorney general role. She campaigned on Trump, so she had to follow through, and she should really dismiss this case. It’s making her look bad, frankly, and the city needs her attention elsewhere.”

Da Baby, DaBaby
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 16, 2023

Da Baby’s Homophobic Comments At Rolling Loud Forced Him To ‘Sit Down And Self-Reflect’

Da Baby is opening up about the $200 million loss he took after his homophobic rant at Rolling Loud in 2021.

The “Suge” rapper appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast where he was asked if he has any regrets in his career. At first, Da Baby said no until Sharpe reminded him of his infamous Rolling Loud performance that garnered backlash when he made controversial comments about HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community.

Despite losing out on over $100 million, Da Baby revealed, he now sees the incident as a “blessing in disguise.”

“You live and you learn,” he said in a clip captured by The Shade Room, noting how the incident “forced to sit my a** to sit down and self-reflect.”

“I don’t regret anything that I done been through,” he said. “It feels so good to be able say that and mean it. I done probably said that before but I ain’t mean it.”

Despite losing $200 million for his offensive remarks, Da Baby sees the incident as a “blessing in disguise.”

”It’s like ‘Boy I wish I had …$200 million, y’all robbed me.’ I don’t feel like that,” he explained. “I really feel like that’s a blessing in disguise at this point in my life and I just came to that realization in the past two weeks.”

But now the South Carolina native is in a happier space and sees the growth that came out of the scandal.

“I love the space I’m in as a person,” he said.

Da Baby was in the hot seat after performing on the last day of Miami’s Rolling Loud in July 2021. Not only did he bring out Tory Lanez minutes after Megan Thee Stallion performed her set, but he offended many when he closed his performance with bizarre remarks about HIV/AIDS and the gay community, Billboard reports.

“If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up,” he told attendees. “Ladies, if your p—- smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d— in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”

He doubled down on his homophobic rant days later when he took to Twitter to defend his comments.

“My gay fans, they take care of themselves. They ain’t no nasty gay n—as. See what I’m saying? They ain’t no junkies in the street. The hell you talking about, n—as? Then I said if you ain’t sucking d— in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up,” he wrote on Twitter.

“You know what my gay fans did? Put that motherf—ing light up, n—a, ’cause my gay fans ain’t going for that. They got class. They ain’t sucking no d— in no parking lot.”

Well, it looks like Da Baby has had a change of heart.

RELATED CONTENT: St. Louis Rapper Sexyy Red Advocates For Donald Trump’s Return To The Presidency

Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, glen Davis
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 16, 2023

Former NBA Players Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis And Will Bynum Convicted In NBA Healthcare Fraud Scheme

Former NBA players Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Will Bynum were found guilty of committing healthcare and wire fraud.

Two more former NBA players have been convicted for their role in an attempt to defraud the NBA’s healthcare plan.

According to CBS Sports, former NBA players Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Will Bynum were found guilty on Nov. 15 of healthcare fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and wire fraud. The two men are the latest of 18 former NBA players accused of trying to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams released a statement about the convictions:

“Moments ago, a Manhattan jury convicted former NBA players Ronald Glen Davis and William Bynum of a criminal scheme to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan. While many of the more than 20 defendants convicted in this case were well-known NBA stars, their conduct was otherwise a typical fraudulent scheme designed to defraud the NBA’s health care plan and net the defendants over $5 million in illicit profits. Today’s conviction exemplifies that despite notoriety or success in sports or any other field, no one is exempt from criminal charges if they engage in fraud.”

The other former players who were arrested and charged in the scheme are Milt Palacio, Antoine Wright, Charles Watson, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Glen Davis, Jamario Moon, Terrence Williams, Alan Anderson, Tony Allen, Shannon Brown, William Bynum, Melvin Ely, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Sebastian Telfair, and Tony Wroten.

Bloomberg reported that Davis and Bynum could each face up to 20 years in prison, but it’s unlikely they get that much time. Terrence Williams, who orchestrated the scam, was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this August. He has been imprisoned since November 2022.

Davis, who won an NBA championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics, also played for the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers. Bynum played with the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and the Celtics.

DRAYMOND GREEN
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 16, 2023

Draymond Green Suspended For 5 Games After Placing Rudy Gobert In Chokehold

Draymond Green has been suspended by the NBA for five games due to placing Rudy Gobert in a chokehold during an altercation.

An altercation between the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert resulted in Green being ejected immediately from the NBA game on Nov. 14. The league has suspended the NBA champion for five games due to the actions that took place during that contest.

NBA.com reported that NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced that Green has been suspended five games without pay “for escalating an on-court altercation and forcibly grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.”

The length of Green’s punishment is due to his noteworthy history of “unsportsmanlike acts.”

Green wasn’t the only player penalized for the scuffle. His teammate, Klay Thompson, as well as Timberwolves players Jaden McDaniels and Gobert, were each fined $25,000 for their roles in the incident. At the game, Thompson and McDaniels were given a technical foul and ejected from the matchup, while Green was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2, which led to his ejection.

The Warriors’ starting forward will start his five-game suspension on Nov. 16, when his team goes up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chase Center.

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, had its share of users posting controversial video clips of the player over the years in the NBA, starting with a mashup “mixtape” of classic moments featuring Green and his “unsportsmanlike acts.”

ESPN reported that Green will lose more than a quarter of a million dollars ($769,970) during his suspension.

Gobert was not pleased that he was fined, saying he was trying to be a peacemaker.

“Every situation is different, but to me, that was more than just a reaction. That was a personal attack,” Gobert said. “Me being fined when I was being a peacemaker, and I chose to keep my hands up while I was being assaulted, it’s shameful. Shameful. And I’m going to appeal that fine.”

This was Green’s second time being thrown out of a game this season. He was ejected from the Nov. 11 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Georgia Election Workers Go After Rudy Giuliani’s Pockets, Seeking $43 Million In Defamation Trial
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 16, 2023

Georgia Election Workers Go After Rudy Giuliani’s Pockets, Seeking $43 Million In Defamation Trial

Giuliani's legal woes aren't over yet.

Two former Fulton County election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, seek between $15.5 and $43 million in their defamation lawsuit against former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

In new court filings, attorneys for the mother-daughter duo say Giuliani could be called to the stand. A federal judge deemed the former NYC mayor responsible in August 2023 after saying Giuliani gave “only lip service” to agreeing to his legal obligations while trying to label himself as the victim in the case. He has already been ordered to pay the two Georgia women over $230,000 in legal fees.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell described his punishment as necessary, based on Giuliani ignoring his duty as a defendant to submit the information Freeman and Moss requested in their lawsuit.

In a statement, Freeman and Moss said they were “living a nightmare” amid a “wave of hatred and threats” because of Giuliani. “Nothing can restore all we lost, but today’s ruling is yet another neutral finding that has confirmed what we have known all along that there was never any truth to any of the accusations about us and that we did nothing wrong,” the statement read. “We were smeared for purely political reasons, and the people responsible can and should be held accountable.”

It started in December 2021, after the women accused Giuliani of defaming them by falsely claiming they were committing fraud while counting 2020 election ballots at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. According to the lawsuit, the former Trump confidant continued to smear their names by accusing them of pulling names out of suitcases of illegal ballots, as well as other acts of fraud, to change the outcome of the election.

Freeman and Moss’s legal team came up with the amount to include costs correlating to Moss’ loss of work and her “need to secure and relocate from her home.”

Giuliani has a growing list of people he owes. His former attorney, Bob Costello, is suing him for over $1 million for unpaid invoices. Another former business colleague is seeking damages after filing a sexual harassment claim against him. President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is also suing Giuliani, accusing him of mishandling personal data.

Tristan Thompson Takes Accountability For Kissing Jordyn Woods
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 16, 2023

Tristan Thompson Takes Accountability For Kissing Jordyn Woods

Five years after Tristan Thompson's kissing scandal with Kylie Jenner's former BFF Jordyn Woods, he made a public apology.

Five years after Tristan Thompson’s kissing scandal with Kylie Jenner’s former BFF Jordyn Woods, he has made a public apology.

In the latest episode of The Kardashians, Tristan sat down with Kylie to apologize for his numerous cheating exploits against her sister, Khloé Kardashian, especially that one time he got caught kissing Kylie’s then-best friend Jordyn. The kiss created turmoil in the family and led to Kylie and Jordyn ending their yearslong friendship.

Now that the dust has settled on Tristan’s multiple cheating encounters, he’s working to repair his relationship with the Kardashian-Jenner family. The Nov. 16 episode also saw Tristan sitting down with Kylie and Kourtney Kardashian to apologize for hurting their sister. For Kylie, his apology was different, as he also apologized for the part he played in Kylie and Jordyn’s broken friendship.

“Everyone got affected differently, but I think you were affected the most by the situation with losing a sister basically,” Tristan told Kylie, in a clip shared online.

“You lost Jordyn, who was a big part of your life. I know how much she meant to your life and your guys’ connection, you guys were like two peas in a pod. So the fact that I put myself and her in a situation that wasn’t right, and wasn’t smart, made it tough for you and Khloé.”

He continued, “It’s a hundred percent on me but I wanna say I’m sorry and I feel bad about it. The fact that I came with my poor decisions and being a f—ing idiot, and being young and stupid, I wanted to say I’m sorry again for that just because life is so short and it sucks because even though we made our mistakes, sometimes it’s hard to come back from situations like that.”

Kylie accepted his apology and gave an update on her current relationship with Jordyn.

“I think I was so codependent with Jordyn that I could’ve never imagined my life without her,” she explained. “We would’ve probably still been living together, and I think she needed to grow without me, I needed to grow without her. But you know, Jordyn and I are cool. We still talk and catch up, we’re good.”

Tristan went on to call himself a “f—ing idiot” for all the cheating he did during his relationship with Khloe. Kylie observed, “You do some dumbass s— … why, Tristan?”

“I think a lot of it was selfish and not really understanding the value of good people,” he said.

Khloé officially ended her relationship with Tristan months before the birth of their son, Tatum, in August 2022, after he was caught in a paternity scandal with Maralee Nichols. Despite all the times she forgave him in the past, including his cheating days after the birth of their daughter, True, in 2018 and the kissing scandal with Jordyn in 2019, Khloé has remained adamant that she has no intention of getting back together with the NBA player, People reported.

RELATED CONTENT: Tristan Thompson Under Probe Over Petition to Gain Guardianship Of His Younger Brother

NYU, lawsuit
by Rafael Pena

November 16, 2023

NYU Students File Lawsuit Against University Over Antisemitism

The students cited instances of verbal and physical threats.

A lawsuit was filed by three Jewish students at New York University on Nov. 14, asserting that the institution has inadequately addressed escalating antisemitism, particularly since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, reported ABC News.

The legal action, invoking Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, alleges that NYU’s failure has fostered a hostile environment in which Jewish students face pervasive acts of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation.

According to the lawsuit, antisemitic behavior at the university has been ongoing, and the students accuse NYU of displaying deliberate indifference at best. The plaintiffs claim that the university has allowed an environment in which Jewish students are subjected to abuse without consequences, contrasting it with how the institution addresses other forms of misconduct.

In response, NYU spokesperson John Beckman disputed the allegations, saying they did not accurately depict the campus conditions. Beckman emphasized that antisemitism violates university rules and that NYU is committed to combating hate, ensuring campus safety, and providing an environment where all students learn peacefully.

“Even though every instance of antisemitic behavior alleged herein is prohibited by one or more of NYU’s policies, the university has done nothing to enforce these policies to remedy or prevent that behavior, and certainly nothing approaching the manner in which NYU has enforced them with respect to misconduct not involving antisemitism,” the lawsuit states. “NYU selectively enforces its own rules, deeming Jewish students unworthy of the protections it readily affords to non-Jewish students victimized by discrimination, harassment, and intimidation.”

The students, juniors Bella Ingber, Sabrina Maslavi, and Saul Tawil, detailed instances of verbal and physical threats that made them feel unsafe on campus. They asserted that the university’s failure to address such issues has impacted their coursework and restricted their movements on campus.

Beckman told ABC News that the allegations “do not accurately describe conditions on our campus or the many steps NYU has been taking to fight antisemitism and keep the campus safe.”

“Antisemitism violates our rules; we take the issues of antisemitism and any other forms of hate extremely seriously, and we are committed to safeguarding our community and providing an environment in which all students can live and learn in peace,” Beckman said.

The lawsuit demands that NYU implements measures to prevent antisemitism, terminates responsible administrators and faculty, and takes action against students engaged in such conduct. Additionally, the students seek damages and attorneys’ fees.

The rise in hate speech and threats against the Jewish community in the U.S. has been noted by law enforcement officials and advocates, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict.

RELATED CONTENT: Van Jones Ridiculed For Speech At ‘March For Israel’ Rally, Booed By Crowd Over Call For ‘Cease-fire’

Chad Ochocinco Johnson Gives Props To Viagra For Making Him ‘Move 10 Times Faster’ On The Football Field
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 16, 2023

Chad Ochocinco Johnson Gives Props To Viagra For Making Him ‘Move 10 Times Faster’ On The Football Field

Former NFL star Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson has never been shy about telling his business to the public.

Former NFL star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson has never been shy about telling his business to the public. The retired football player took the opportunity to tell fellow retired footballer and show co-host Shannon Sharpe that he credited the sexual performance enhancement drug Viagra for his speed on the football field. During a Nov. 14 episode of his show, Nightcap With Unc and Ocho, the former Cincinnati Bengal discussed how the drug would help him.

“Listen to me; it’s an enhancement with the increasing blood flow to improve performance horizontally, depending on how you do it,” Ochocinco said.

“Stay with me now. If you take half a pill before a game with a little bit of Red Bull, it increases the blood flow, which enhances performance.” 

The outspoken player made headlines for his ritual in 2020. Since the NFL generally screens for performance enhancing drugs such as steroids, Ocho said the erectile dysfunction medication helps get around it.

“NFL tests for steroids,” he said on Twitter.

“How you gonna stop me running on three legs every Sunday?”

https://twitter.com/ochocinco/status/1288215087875084289?s=61&t=CBaMhYQcJwRICxF4GTGzEw

Ocho tried to get Sharpe to confess to using Viagra as well but the First Take co-host wouldn’t budge. “I can confirm nor deny,” Sharpe said.

The three-time Pro-Bowler continued his story to describe himself as one of the greatest NFL wide receivers while claim he scored 12 points NBA legend LeBron James during a game at NYC’s The Summit and thinks he could fight professional boxer, Bud Crawford, telling Sharpe to “ask Bud about these hands.” 

There may be some truth to Ochocinco’s claims. A study from the American Heart Association found sildenafil, the generic name for Viagra, helps improve exercise capacity by dilating arteries and increasing muscular blood flow. According to the New York Post, another study found that the drug can cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 60%.

RELATED CONTENT: Viagra and Social Security? Why Uncle Sam May Owe You Alot of Money

judge, main, racial attack
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 16, 2023

State Judge In Maine Orders Two White Men To Pay Black Man $1.25 Million For Racially Motivated Attack

The victim testified saying that if he hadn’t been able to escape, “I probably would have lost my life that night.”

A state judge from Maine has ordered that a Black man be paid over $1 million after being a victim of a racially motivated attack in 2018, the Associated Press reports.

The victim, Daimon McCollum, was randomly attacked in 2018 by Maurice Diggins and his nephew, Dusty Leo, of Biddeford. McCollum’s family had been celebrating one of his children’s receiving a college scholarship before McCollum walked to a local convenience store for a snack, encountering Diggins and Leo. From a vehicle, Diggins prevented McCollum from going into the store by circling around him and shouting racial taunts. Leo then approached McCollum and punched him in the jaw. McCollum ran away, and the men followed him to his home.

The judge handed down a default judgment against Diggins and Leo, who are currently being held in federal custody.

While McCollum’s attorney, Allyson Knowles, said that her client may never actually receive the awarded money, she praised the judgment, as it “demonstrates that this kind of conduct is abhorrent and won’t be tolerated.”

McCollum and his family initially relocated from the Bronx borough of New York City to Maine due to its low crime rate. However, following the assault, he decided to move out of Biddeford.

Diggins, meanwhile, has visible tattoos of symbols that represent hatred toward Black people and others, including swastikas and the initials “WPWW” for “White Pride World Wide,” which played a huge part in the trial. At Diggins’ sentencing, according to the Portland Press Herald, U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen said Diggins told his wife during a recorded jail call that several people from the state shared the same racist views and would protect him from a guilty verdict.

Diggins was sentenced to 10 years after being convicted of two counts of committing a hate crime and one count of conspiracy. His nephew pleaded guilty and received a three-year sentence. He is scheduled to be released from federal custody toward the end of November 2023.

After the attack, McCollum’s mouth was wired shut for a month. During his testimony, he said that if he hadn’t been able to escape,

“I probably would have lost my life that night.”

RELATED CONTENT: Woman Bitten During Racist Attack On A UK Train

Bahamas
by Rafael Pena

November 16, 2023

Tragedy Strikes Bahamas Tourist Ferry: 75-Year-Old Woman Dead After Vessel Sinks

A horrifying incident unfolded off the coast of the Bahamas as a double-decker ferry, sank, leaving a 75-year-old American woman dead.

A horrifying incident unfolded Nov. 14 in the azure waters off the coast of the Bahamas as a double-decker ferry, carrying cruise ship passengers to the scenic Blue Lagoon Island, sank, leaving a 75-year-old American woman dead, reported USA Today.

The calamity occurred as the ferry departed Paradise Island, Nassau, en route to Blue Lagoon Island, a tourist destination about three miles northeast of the Bahamas capital.

“The vessel experienced rough seas in the area, which resulted in the boat taking on water and becoming submerged in waters just outside of Blue Lagoon,” stated Police Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings to the Nassau Guardian.

@kellyswitz

our ferry went down on our way to Blue Lagoon #shipwreck #boat #boatsinking #bluelagoon #bahamas #ferry

♬ original sound – Kelly Schissel

With approximately 100 passengers on board, the ferry left Paradise Island around 9:30 a.m. The distressing scene was captured in a TikTok video by Kelly Schissel, an American tourist on board, who exclaimed, “Our boat is sinking. Everybody is freaking out.”

In the video, passengers wearing orange life vests can be seen clinging to one side of the ferry as it tips into the turquoise Caribbean waters. Chaos ensues, with screams and shouting in the background.

Schissel, in a follow-up video, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that as the water began pouring into the boat, passengers awaited instructions from the crew, who allegedly provided none. Consequently, when someone jumped into the rough waters, others followed suit, donning life jackets and swimming to a nearby boat. The evacuation continued until additional boats arrived for the rescue effort.

Despite swift action from emergency teams at Blue Lagoon Island, tragedy struck, claiming the life of a 75-year-old woman from Colorado. Her identity and cause of death remain undisclosed at present.

The ferry was reportedly approaching Blue Lagoon Island when the incident occurred. Passengers and five staff members were safely brought to the island, with two passengers requiring hospitalization.

In a statement, Blue Lagoon Island indicated that the passengers on the ferry were from a cruise ship. The U.S. Embassy, local authorities, and the cruise ship were promptly alerted about the accident.

As the investigation unfolds, questions about the boat’s seaworthiness and the crew’s response to the emergency remain. The Bahamas, known for its idyllic landscapes, is now grappling with the aftermath of a day meant for leisure.

RELATED CONTENT: Mexican Cartel Apologizes For Murder and Kidnapping of Black Americans

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