Category: District Attorney

Manhattan DA Bragg Agrees To Postpone Trump’s Sentencing, But ‘Not Dropping’ Case

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 13: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. As is tradition with incoming presidents, Trump is traveling to Washington, DC to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House as well as meet with Republican congressmen on Capitol Hill. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
11:34 AM – Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg has agreed to postpone President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his so-called “hush money” case. However, he has not dropped the case and maintains that he doesn’t plan to.

On Tuesday, Bragg stated in a letter to Judge Juan Merchan that Trump is not likely to be sentenced “until after the end of [the] Defendant’s upcoming presidential term.” However, he did assert that the felony conviction should stand, in his opinion.

“No current law establishes that a president’s temporary immunity from prosecution requires dismissal of a post-trial criminal proceeding that was initiated at a time when the defendant was not immune from criminal prosecution and that is based on official conduct for which the defendant is also not immune,” the district attorney’s office wrote.

A New York court found Trump guilty of 34 felonies related to allegedly manipulating business records pertaining to a $130,000 payment made by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case and maintains that he never had sexual relations with Daniels.

Trump had been scheduled to be sentenced on November 26th, but last week, Merchan put all proceedings in the case on pause at the request of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

“Merchan can move to either delay Trump’s sentencing until after he leaves the White House, could dismiss the conviction outright, or could grant a sentence of unconditional discharge, which would leave the conviction intact but free Trump from any prison time, fines, or probation,” Fox News reported.

Prosecutors had asked for more time to consider the next steps in the case, citing the need to balance the “competing interests” between having the criminal case go forward and protecting the office of the incoming president-elect.

Meanwhile, Trump’s defense lawyers have urged the judge to dismiss the case due to the “unconstitutional impediments” to his ability to govern. 

He also argued that the conviction should be vacated and the charges dismissed because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in July that presidents cannot be prosecuted over their official acts, and that evidence of their official acts cannot be used in trials over personal behavior.

In a statement responding to Bragg’s decision, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung called the filing “a total and definitive victory for President Trump.”

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Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner Sues Elon Musk Over Swing-State Voter Lottery

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks to a reporter. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
11:35 AM – Monday, October 28, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/philadelphia-da-larry-krasner-sues-elon-musk-over-swing-state-voter-lottery/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

On Monday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and his PAC in order to prevent them from disbursing $1 million daily to a registered voter in a swing state who signs their petition.

The petition simply asks people to sign if they desire secure borders, safe cities, free speech, sensible spending, self-protection, and a fair justice system in the U.S.

Additionally, the First and Second Amendments, which address American constitutional rights related to speech, religion, and firearms, are endorsed by petition signatories.

“America PAC and Musk are luring Philadelphia citizens – and others in the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming election) – to give up their personal identifying information and make a political pledge in exchange for the chance to win $1 million,” according to the legal complaint.

“America PAC’s and Musk’s lottery is plainly not a lawful lottery,” the lawsuit notes.

The complaint claims that the lottery is in violation of Pennsylvania law, which mandates that all lotteries in the state be subject to government regulation. Additionally, the DA argued that Musk and his American PAC “have not published a complete set of lottery rules or shown how they are protecting the privacy of participants’ personal information,” which he highlighted is a violation of Pennsylvania consumer protection laws.

Musk is accused in the case of “falsely claiming” that the winner was chosen at random, with the liberal DA asserting that “multiple winners that have been selected are individuals who have shown up at Trump rallies in Pennsylvania.”

However, after the story first broke, social media users noted that it is not abnormal for Trump supporters to sign a petition touting the same ideals that the Republican Party and Trump have openly expressed as guiding principles for how the U.S. should operate.

Musk has publicly expressed support for the GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump, appearing at a number of Trump rallies alongside the former president and large crowds of supporters.

According to the lawsuit, Musk and the PAC purportedly promised to give $100 to registered voters who signed a pro-First and Second Amendment petition, but the district attorney’s office stated that they don’t believe that any of those payments have been made.

CNN reported that the PAC has already received a warning letter from the U.S. Justice Department claiming that the gift may be in violation of federal election law.

Last Thursday, Musk seemed unfazed by the warning. The PAC declared two victors on Thursday but did not declare a winner on Wednesday.

The Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas is being asked by Krasner to issue an order that would forbid Musk and his political action committee from carrying out “any unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with their lottery.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported last week that Bill Gates “disclosed in private” that he donated around $50 million to a nonprofit assisting Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for president, according to individuals familiar with the matter who spoke with the outlet.

At the start of October, the makers of the “raunchy” card game Cards Against Humanity offered to pay blue-leaning non-voters in battleground states $100 as long as they made voting plans and posted on social media that “Donald Trump is a human toilet.”

In addition, the Tufts University Career Center has similarly offered a pro-Harris initiative, “compensating people up to $400 to talk with their friends and family about voting.” Specifically, the program is “about supporting Kamala Harris for President, as well as candidates who are fighting for climate change, reproductive freedom, democracy, healthcare, marijuana legalization, and more. It’s a chance to help shape the future while making a tangible difference,” according to its website.

(Photo via: FEC)

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