Donald Trump’s legal woes:
- Trump’s former lawyers …
Testifying as a key witness in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil fraud case, Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified that he manipulated the values of the former U.S. president’s real estate properties to match “whatever number Mr. Trump told us” … In the sweeping racketeering indictment brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Jenna Ellis became the third member of Trump’s legal team to reach a plea deal in the Georgia case, following Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro.
- Gag orders …
Justice Arthur Engoron in New York reconsidered but ultimately stood by his decision to fine Donald Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order during his civil fraud trial … In a separate case where the former U.S. president is accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat, the American Civil Liberties Union urged U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reconsider a partial gag order she imposed on Trump.
From the bench: New findings that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas apparently failed to repay at least a “significant portion” of a $267,230 loan spurred criticism of the court’s lack of an ethics code … A bipartisan group of legal experts threw their support behind 18-year term limits for SCOTUS justices … The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced four of President Joe Biden’s federal district court judge nominees … A Maryland man sought in the shooting death of the judge who presided over his divorce case was found dead … Members of the Texas Supreme Court weighed a lawsuit by a Christian elected Texas justice of the peace censured over her refusal to officiate at same-sex weddings … And federal judges in the Southern District of Texas agreed to let a different court hear any lawsuits against U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, who recently resigned over an undisclosed romantic relationship with a lawyer.
Antitrust lawsuits: A bipartisan group of 18 attorneys general backed two minor league baseball teams that are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Major League Baseball’s longtime exemption from federal antitrust laws … A corporate lawyer advocacy group warned that the FTC’s consumer lawsuit against Amazon.com unfairly cites communications between the e-commerce giant and its lawyers as evidence … Google executive Prabhakar Raghavan testified at the ongoing antitrust trial in the suit brought by the DOJ and a coalition of state attorneys general … The 11th Circuit upheld a $2.7 billion settlement in an antitrust suit against Blue Cross … MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and other hotel operators in Las Vegas defeated a proposed class action accusing them of conspiring to overcharge for room rates … Sanderson Farms persuaded a federal jury in Chicago to reject claims that it conspired with industry rivals to suppress supply to artificially drive up chicken prices.
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In her new memoir, pop superstar Britney Spears offers up an unexpected hero: her lawyer, Greenberg Traurig partner Mathew Rosengart. Spears lavishes praise on Rosengart (dubbed RosenGod by some of her fans) for freeing her in 2021 from 13-year conservatorship that the singer called “the darkest chapter of my life.” Jenna Greene in her latest column talks to Rosengart about the book and his work on Spears’ behalf.
Check out other recent pieces from all our columnists: Alison Frankel, Jenna Greene and Hassan Kanu
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Israeli ground invasion in Gaza looms … Hamas conditions the release of hostages on a ceasefire … U.S. President Joe Biden questions Palestinian reporting of death tolls, but international agencies say the data is broadly accurate … The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is starting to boost revenues for big U.S. defense contractors … JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to sell part of his stake in the bank for the first time in almost 18 years at its helm … The U.S. opens its northernmost diplomatic station in Arctic Norway … A new Beatles song will be released next week, featuring the voice of late member John Lennon and developed using AI.
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