(DCNF)One of Donald Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche, believes that the sentencing for former President Donald Trump following Thursday’s verdict could result in jail time, The Associated Press reported Saturday.
Blanche anticipates that due to the prominence and highly publicized nature of the case, the sentencing could be “contentious,” and that while the president’s legal team will argue for no jail time, it is a possibility, Blanche told the AP. Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to non-disclosure payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, with a sentencing date scheduled for July 11.
George Conway Goes Off The Rails When GOP Strategist Suggests Trump Conviction Will ‘Backfire’ On Dems https://t.co/6xSNmW7wfW
“On the one hand, it would be extraordinary to send a 77-year-old to prison for a case like this. A first-time offender who was also president of the United States, I mean, I think almost unheard of,” Blanche told the AP. “So it’s going to be a very, I think, contentious sentencing where we’re going to obviously argue strenuously for a non-incarceratory sentence.”
The felonies that Trump was convicted of can be punished by either incarceration, probation or a fine, according to the AP. The former president has vowed to appeal.
“I was shocked at how he took the verdict,” Blanche told the AP about Trump. “He just stood there and just kind of took it. And I think had a lot of appropriate solemnness for the moment that made me very proud to be sitting next to him when it, when it was happening.”
The case has been marred by controversy due to claims that it is motivated by political considerations. The case trial took place in a deep-blue district in Manhattan brought by Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who campaigned on charging Trump.
“I believe in the justice system, and I always will. And I don’t think that that one case should change anybody’s view,” Blanche told the AP. “But if you were Donald J. Trump and you have four indictments… you don’t think you would say you thought it was rigged? OK.”
Blanche did not immediately respond to a request to comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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(AP) — The missions for both the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers couldn’t be simpler at this point in the Eastern Conference title matchup.
For the Panthers, it’s win one game and return to the Stanley Cup Final.
For the Rangers, it’s win one game and return home with title hopes still alive.
The Prince of Wales Trophy — the one given to the team that wins the East, a prize that Florida skated away with 12 months ago — will be in the Panthers’ building on Saturday night. Florida will play host to the Rangers in Game 6 of this East title encounter, the Panthers now up 3-2 in the series after a 3-2 win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
“We don’t want to think too much ahead right now,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said.
Translation: The job is not finished.
“The team that is closest to their identity wins, whether it’s an elimination game or not,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said in New York on Friday, before the team made the flight back to South Florida. “How fast and quick you can get to your identity wins the game.”
The Rangers — the Presidents’ Trophy winners for having the best regular season record this year — have already won once at Florida in this series, taking Game 3 in overtime, so they surely know that they can go on the road and prevail. New York also had 25 road wins in the regular season, tied for third-most in the NHL behind only Florida and Dallas.
“We knew it was going to be tight defensively coming in here,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “I mean, the way they played the regular season and the way they played the playoffs up until this point let us believe that it wasn’t going to be wide open.”
The last four games have all been decided by exactly one goal, New York winning the first two, Florida winning the last two — and continuing the trend of the Panthers seeming perfectly comfortable in uncomfortable playoff moments.
Florida is 16-5 in one-goal games over the last two postseasons. That is, by far, the best record in one-goal playoff games since the start of 2023.
“Our approach is one game at a time. We’ve got business to take care of still,” Florida forward Sam Bennett said. “All we’re thinking about is Game 6 at home. That’s our entire focus, on that game right now.”
SUNSHINE STATE HOCKEY
Move over, Original Six. Step aside, colder climates. If you want hockey in June … you’re coming to Florida.
Yes, Florida.
When the puck drops on Saturday night, the state of Florida — 2021 and 2022 in Tampa, 2023 and now 2024 in Sunrise — will become the first U.S. state or Canadian province to ever play host to an NHL game in June in four consecutive years.
Pennsylvania had two different three-year streaks of June NHL games — 1995-97 and 2008-10. The Sunshine State is seeing June hockey for the seventh different year overall, two back of Pennsylvania for the most such instances in NHL history.
If the Rangers force a Game 7, the state of New York would have a June game for the seventh different year as well.
PANTHERS RECORD
Florida’s win at New York on Thursday night was the Panthers’ 63rd of the season, including playoffs.
That’s a franchise record — topping the 62 that the Panthers won in the 2021-22 season.
Florida — which will play its 99th game of 2023-24 on Saturday night — is now assured of playing at least 100 games this season for only the third time in the franchise’s 30-year history. The Panthers had 104 games in 1995-96 and 103 games last season.
The Rangers have 65 wins this season, second-most in club history. The Stanley Cup-winning 1993-94 squad won 68 games.
CHASING HISTORY
Florida is trying to be the first team since Pittsburgh, in 2016 and 2017, to oust the Presidents’ Trophy winner in consecutive seasons.
The Panthers beat Boston in Round 1 last year and the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the most regular season points this year. Washington won the trophy in both 2016 and 2017; the Penguins eliminated the Capitals in the second round in each of those years.
Before that, the last instance of a team ousting a Presidents’ Trophy team two years in a row was Detroit — against Colorado in 1997 and Dallas in 1998, both times in the conference finals.
CLOSEOUT-ELIMINATION SCENARIOS
The Panthers are 2-2 in closeout opportunities this season and 9-6 all-time when having a chance to advance.
The Rangers are facing elimination for the first time this season — but went 6-2 when facing a win-or-go-home game in the previous two seasons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden -. (AP/Michele Euler)
Joel B. Pollak (Breitbart)
Israeli Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu declined Friday to confirm or deny explicitly U.S. President Joe Biden’s claim that Israel had proposed a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release that would keep Hamas armed and in power in Gaza.
However, Netanyahu’s response suggested that Israel’s “actual proposal” was different than the one Biden described.
Israel has now offered a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire – and the release of all the hostages.
Yesterday, this proposal was transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.
On Friday, as Breitbart News reported, Biden proposed a three-part deal similar to proposals that Hamas had rejected in the past. The proposal never mentioned disarming Hamas and would effectively leave Hamas in power.
Biden claimed that the Israeli government had proposed the deal — but then, bizarrely, attacked parties within the Israeli government whom, he said, would reject the deal. He added that “total victory” over Hamas was impossible.
The timing of Biden’s proposal coincided with the onset of the Jewish Sabbath in Israel, making it impossible for religious parties to respond. Netanyahu is not strictly observant, but tends to avoid statements on the Sabbath.
In a statement late Friday night Israel time, Netanyahu responded to Biden without confirming, or denying, that Israel had proposed the deal Biden had described:
The Government of Israel is united in its desire to return the hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal.
The Prime Minister authorized the negotiating team to present a proposal to that end, which would also enable Israel to continue the war until all its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
The actual proposal put forward by Israel, including the conditional transition from one phase to the next, allows Israel to uphold these principles.
The two proposals — Biden’s version, and Netanyahu’s version — differ explicitly over the question of destroying Hamas, which Biden’s proposal completely ignores.
It is possible that Biden mischaracterized Israel’s proposals to put pressure on Israel. (One possible “tell” is Biden giving credit to Israel for a “roadmap”; Biden has criticized Israel for months for failing to provide a postwar plan.)
In early May, with an Israeli attack on its last battalions in Rafah looming, Hamas claimed to have accepted a ceasefire — though the terms it had accepted were not ones Israel had actually proposed. Israeli officials later complained that the Biden administration had secretly worked with mediators to change the terms of the deal.
The Biden announcement Friday would appear to be a repeated use of the same technique — a media announcement of a proposed deal that Israel has not made, with the aim of enticing Hamas to agree and pressuring Israel to accept.
Update: Hamas welcomed Biden’s proposal:
BREAKING: Hamas issued a statement saying it “looks positively” at what was included in President Biden’s speech, mainly his call for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, and an exchange of prisoners. “The movement affirms…
Update: Former President Barack Obama endorsed the proposal — and claimed it was Biden’s proposal, not Israel’s: “Today, President Biden put forward a clear, realistic and just plan to establish an immediate ceasefire and end the war in Gaza … I am deeply encouraged by the steady, tireless efforts of President Biden.”
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the recent e-book, “The Zionist Conspiracy (and how to join it),” now available on Audible. He is also the author of the e-book, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
In a significant demonstration of anti-Israel animus, hundreds of New York City public school students walked out of their schools on Friday afternoon to stage a pro-Palestinian protest. According to the information provided in a New York Post report on Friday, the protest, held at the Department of Education headquarters at the historic Tweed Courthouse in Lower Manhattan, was promoted by several radical teacher groups and drew attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
— NYC Educators For Palestine (@nycedpalestine) May 30, 2024
Starting around 2:30 p.m., students from various high schools across the city gathered, waving signs that called for a cease-fire in Gaza and condemned Israel’s military actions following the October 7 terror attack as “genocide,” as was reported by The Post. The demonstration was marked by hate filled speeches and anti-Israel chants, reflecting the seething resentment of Israel held by the young participants.
The walkout was organized by a coalition of groups including Teachers Unite, NYC Educators for Palestine, the Palestine Youth Movement, Al-Awda NY, Movement of MORE Rank-&-File Educators, and Desis Rising Up and Moving, as per the information contained in The Post report. These organizations, known for their strident anti-Israel agenda, provided a protest toolkit to the students, that was reviewed by The New York Post.
📍New York City: Thousands of New York City high school students walked out of class today, with hundreds rallying outside the headquarters of the Department of Education to demand an end to the Zionist genocide and a liberated Palestine pic.twitter.com/ryV3x66whK
— Palestinian Youth Movement (@palyouthmvmt) May 31, 2024
This toolkit provided detailed instructions on how to execute a walkout, offering tips to students on organizing their peers and advising teachers on their civil engagement rights, The Post reported. In typical Marxist fashion, the information sheet emphasized the importance of collective action and provided a roadmap for similar demonstrations.
“I’m fighting for humanity, I don’t care what they do,” one student from Stuyvesant High School told the Post, expressing her indifference to potential disciplinary actions for participating in the walkout. “I took an absent day,” she added in her comments to The Post, indicating her willingness to face the consequences for her actions.
Despite the organized nature of the protest, the main leaders remained unclear. Even among the participants, there was uncertainty about who was directing the event. Indicated in The Post report was that this decentralized organization style is often characteristic of grassroots movements, where the collective voice is prioritized over individual leadership.
Students from several prominent high schools were represented at the protest. In addition to Stuyvesant High School, about 50 to 100 students from LaGuardia High School and an unknown number from Brooklyn Technical High School joined the demonstration, as was noted in the Post report. Police estimated that by 3:30 p.m., the crowd had swelled to approximately 200 participants. Among them was a group of about 20 to 30 students from Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn. In addition, approximately 60 students from Susan E. Wagner High School on Staten Island also joined the walkout.
The Post report indicated that the protest aimed to protect anti-Israel students and teachers from “unjust administrative retaliation and suspension.” In an online statement, Teachers Unite emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of those who speak out against Israel, framing the walkout as a necessary action to ensure their safety and freedom of expression.
Joining the students outside the Tweed Courthouse were educators and adult protesters, all united under the banner of solidarity with Palestine. The report in the Post added that the demonstrators carried signs calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and labeling Israel’s military operations as “genocide.”
Teachers Unite and its partners also used this platform to call for the city to redirect funding from policing to educational initiatives, specifically advocating for the incorporation of Palestinian history into the school curriculum, as per the information in The Post report. They argue that a more comprehensive understanding of global history and contemporary issues is essential for fostering informed and engaged citizens.
The protest at the Tweed Courthouse culminated in a rally and march scheduled for 3 p.m., as outlined in the leaflet distributed ahead of the event. Despite attempts by Department of Education Chancellor David Banks to discourage the protest, the turnout reflected a significant level of support among students and educators. “I’m a big believer in student voice and kids standing up for the things that they believe in … I don’t think you need to have continued walkouts to do that,” Banks stated during a press briefing on Thursday, according to The Post report. His remarks, however, did little to deter the determined young activists.
The involvement of radical teacher groups in promoting the walkout has sparked debate. Critics argue that educators should maintain a neutral stance and avoid influencing students’ political activities. However, supporters contend that teachers have a responsibility to encourage critical thinking and civic engagement, especially on pressing global issues.
Former President Donald J. Trump vowed to resolve the migrant crisis via mass deportations. Photo Credit: AP
Trump’s Defiance on Display at Post-Conviction Speech at NYC Headquarters
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Just one day after his historic conviction on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a hush-money trial, former President Donald Trump took to the stage at Trump Tower on Friday morning with characteristic bravado. The former president, now the first in U.S. history to be convicted of crimes, addressed reporters with a defiant tone, reiterating his grievances with the case and vowing to appeal the decision.
Standing in the atrium of the New York skyscraper, mere steps from the golden escalator that marked the beginning of his first presidential bid in 2015, Trump delivered a 35-minute speech. This setting, a symbol of his business empire and political ascent, served as a poignant backdrop for his latest public address. Nearly nine years after his dramatic entry into politics, Trump’s rhetoric remained as fiery as ever.
“If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone,” Trump began, framing his conviction as part of a broader, nefarious plot. According to a report on ABCNews.com, he characterized the individuals behind his prosecution as “bad people” and “sick people.” His speech was laden with accusations that the trial was rigged. Trump supporters, some political analysts and legal scholars have also weighed in with their opinions of the trial and have suggested that government agencies were indeed weaponized against Trump.
Former Harvard law school professor and constitutional expert Alan Dershowitz said he had predicted a Trump conviction in this case due to the location of the trial and strong Democratic leaning in New York City, echoing Trump’s words about the overall case being “rigged,” according to a report in Newsweek.
Throughout his remarks, Trump oscillated between familiar campaign themes and the specifics of his legal battles. He raised the issue of open borders and the migrant crisis as well as the economic competition with China, but his focus swiftly returned to the New York criminal trial, as per the ABCNews.com report.
Despite the gag order prohibiting him from directly naming Judge Juan Merchan and his former attorney Michael Cohen, Trump alluded to both figures disparagingly. Cohen, once a close confidant and now a key witness against him, was referred to as a “sleazebag,” while Judge Merchan was labeled a “tyrant,” as was indicated in the ABCNews.com report. These veiled references called attention to Trump’s ongoing resentment towards those he holds responsible for his legal troubles.
The atmosphere in the atrium was charged, with Trump supporters and members of the press keenly observing his every word. However, Trump did not entertain questions, leaving the audience with his assertions unchallenged. His speech, while largely a rehash of previous grievances, reinforced his stance as a defiant figure, unwilling to concede defeat even in the face of legal convictions.
Trump’s promise to appeal reflects his broader strategy of contesting legal and political challenges through prolonged litigation and public denouncement. His statement, “If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone,” was a rallying cry aimed at his base, positioning himself as a victim of a corrupt system, according to the report.
“In a way, I’m honored,” Trump declared, his tone a mix of defiance and victimhood. “It’s not that it’s pleasant. It’s very bad for family, it’s very bad for friends and businesses, but I’m honored to be involved in it because somebody has to do it, and I might as well keep going and be the one, “ the former president said as was reported by ABCNews.com. With these words, Trump aimed to frame himself as the reluctant yet determined hero in a battle against a corrupt system.
This theme of martyrdom has been central to Trump’s 2024 campaign narrative, positioning him as a lone warrior fighting against an establishment he claims is out to silence him. “So we’re going to show them that we’re going to fight,” the former president continued, as per the information in the ABCNews.com report. “It’s something where I’m wired in such a way that a lot of people would have gone away a long time ago.” He portrayed his legal battles as part of a broader struggle for justice and truth.
Trump also made it clear that he plans to appeal the conviction, reiterating the reasons why he and his legal team believe they should. He criticized the venue of the trial and the timing of the case, suggesting that the proceedings were strategically designed to undermine his political campaign. “The people of our country know it’s a hoax, they know it’s a hoax, they get it,” Trump asserted, as was noted in the ABCNews.com report. “You know, they’re really smart. And it’s really something, so we’re going to be appealing this scam.”
Throughout his speech, Trump sought to downplay the severity of the counts against him. The ABCNews.com report said that he continued to claim that the non-disclosure agreement at the heart of the trial was “totally legal” and not a hush-money payment, despite the court’s findings.
Trump did not shy away from attacking the Biden administration, despite the case being handled solely by New York prosecutors. “I don’t know if Biden knows too much about it, because I don’t know if he knows about anything, but he’s nevertheless the president, so we have to use his name. And this is done by Washington,” Trump said.
Despite his conviction, Trump expressed confidence that these events would ultimately propel him to victory in November. Reports surfaced on Friday morning that according to tallies from those operating Trump’s campaign web site, since the announcement of the verdict on Thursday afternoon, his campaign raised $34.8 million in individual contributions. This substantial fundraising haul, despite his legal troubles, highlights the former president’s enduring influence within the Republican base. It was also reported on Thursday that billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has thrown his support behind Trump.
In the wake of Trump’s fiery post-conviction address at Trump Tower, the Biden-Harris campaign swiftly issued a sharp rebuttal, condemning Trump for undermining the rule of law and fostering division.
“America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States,” stated Michael Tyler, Biden campaign communications director, as was indicated in the ABCNews.com report. “Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution. He thinks this election is about him. But it’s not. It’s about the American people: lowering their costs, protecting their freedoms, defending their democracy,” he added.
Tyler’s statement drew attention to the Biden campaign’s view that Trump’s focus on personal vendettas and falsehoods about the legal process is detrimental to the nation. By contrasting Trump’s approach with their own purported policy-driven agenda, the Biden campaign sought to appeal to voters concerned about stability and governance.
However, Trump’s emotional tone also revealed a sense of frustration. He expressed anger about the situation, stating that he wished it had not happened. The ABCNews.com report indicated that this mix of boasting and bitterness painted a complex picture of a candidate who, despite significant challenges, remains a formidable force in American politics.
The event at Trump Tower was attended by a couple dozen supporters, along with Trump’s legal and campaign teams. Notably, his son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump were present, visibly cheering and clapping as he entered the atrium. This familial and loyal support further emphasized Trump’s narrative of resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.
Brooklyn Museum Besieged by Anti-Israel Protesters in Dramatic Demonstration
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a dramatic and unprecedented turn of events, a large group of anti-Israel protesters breached the Brooklyn Museum on Friday, establishing an encampment inside and scaling the building to unfurl a massive banner declaring the war in Gaza as “genocide” according to information provided in a New York Post report that appeared on Friday. The protest, spearheaded by the vehemently anti-Israel group “Within Our Lifetime,” drew nearly 1,000 participants, highlighting the intense divisions surrounding the ongoing conflict.
Watch: Brooklyn Museum area on Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. A violent pro Hamas protest has escalated into mayhem with Jews being bullied, & intimidated, and cops assaulted. Outrageous & unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/DvXePGY33A
The protest began with a vanguard of activists who climbed the museum’s exterior and rappelled down inside the building, according to police sources. This audacious act set the stage for hundreds more who surrounded the museum, located adjacent to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, the Post report said. Video footage posted on social media shows protesters hopping over metal fence barriers, chanting “Free free Palestine,” and waving Palestinian flags as they entered the museum grounds.
On the roof, a group of protesters draped a giant banner reading “Free Palestine – Divest From Genocide” over the front of the building, making a bold visual statement that could be seen from the surrounding area, as per the information contained in The Post report. The banner and the occupation of the museum were intended to draw attention to the protesters’ demands for the institution to disclose and divest from what they describe as the “US-Israeli genocide.”
BREAKING: Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters have taken over the Brooklyn Museum. They reportedly broke through barricades and assaulted staff.pic.twitter.com/Dbmb3O6PbK
The protest at the Brooklyn Museum was meticulously organized by “Within Our Lifetime,” an anti-Israel group that had called on its supporters to “flood the Brooklyn Museum for Gaza.” The Post report indicated that an online flier for the protest stated, “Activists are de-occupying the museum until they disclose and divest from the US-Israeli genocide,” signaling their intent to maintain their presence until their demands were addressed.
The scale and intensity of the demonstration were significant, with approximately 800 people gathering outside the museum. The protestors’ actions were part of a broader movement that has seen numerous anti-Israel demonstrations across New York City in recent months. As was reported by The Post, this particular event followed closely on the heels of a city-wide walkout by hundreds of New York public school students, who demonstrated at the Department of Education headquarters in Lower Manhattan earlier in the day.
Police sources indicated that an unknown number of protesters were arrested during the museum occupation, though specifics were not immediately available, according to the Post report. The NYPD’s response to the situation included heightened security measures and efforts to manage the large and rancorous mob.
The Brooklyn Museum, a cultural institution known for its extensive art collections and educational programs, became an unexpected focal point for the protesters’ message. Noted in The Post report was that the institution has not yet issued a public response to the incident or the demands of the protesters.
Marchers head up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade, June 4, 2023. Photo by Ryan Rahman/Shutterstock.
isk
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In light of recent tensions and a potential elevated risk of disruption by pro-Hamas protesters, the New York Police Department (NYPD) is ramping up security measures for the upcoming Israel Day Parade in Manhattan that is scheduled to take place on Sunday, according to a New York Post report that appeared on Friday. This decision follows an internal memo warning of possible threats to the celebration, which comes in the wake of the brutal October 7 massacre by Hamas and subsequent anti-Israel protests across the city.
The Israel Day Parade, a significant annual event celebrating the heritage and culture of Israel, will proceed down Fifth Avenue from 56th Street to 74th Street. The Post report indicated that despite the heightened security concerns, officials have assured the public that there are no specific or credible threats currently being tracked for the parade.
On Friday afternoon, the Post reported that a seething mob of anti-Israel protesters busted inside the Brooklyn Museum, where they set up an encampment, made their way to the roof and draped a banner from the side of the building declaring the war in Gaza “genocide.” The Post also reported that the intruders — who were the vanguard of a massive demonstration nearly 1,000 people strong — scaled the building and rappelled down inside of the art museum with climbing, police sources said.
At a Friday briefing, city officials emphasized the importance of vigilance given the current climate. The Post reported that New York City Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the context, stating, “This is the first major large Jewish event since October 7th, and we are extremely conscious of the over 3,000 protests that took place in our city since that day. Many of them were orderly, but there have been a few that did not follow proper procedures.” The mayor’s comments reflect the city’s awareness of the potential for disruptions amidst ongoing tensions.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner also addressed the unique challenges posed this year, noting, “It would be hard to argue that the circumstances around this event this year are not different from years past,” as detailed in The Post report. Her statement draws attention to the increased caution being exercised by the NYPD in light of recent events.
The parade, a significant event for New York City’s Jewish community, will see an increased NYPD presence, including specialized units such as bike teams, aviation, K-9, and transit officers. Commissioner Edward Caban highlighted the comprehensive nature of the security measures in place.
In practical terms, the security measures at the parade will be more robust than in previous years. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey explained that the approach will be “a little bit more increased” from last year, while ensuring that the measures remain non-intrusive for New Yorkers. “It’s a scaled-down version of what we do on New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July, J’Ouvert celebrations,” Maddrey told The Post, comparing the enhanced security to other major city events where significant precautions are taken.
The decision to boost security is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the Israel Day Parade amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions. The NYPD’s proactive stance reflects a commitment to safeguarding participants and spectators while maintaining the celebratory spirit of the event, as was noted in The Post report.
This year’s Israel Day Parade is not just a cultural celebration but also a moment of resilience and solidarity for the Jewish community in New York City. The added security measures, while a response to potential risks, are also a testament to the city’s determination to protect its diverse communities and uphold the tradition of the parade.
“It’s all about safety for the communities, participants, and spectators. So we ask everybody to come out, come enjoy themselves,” Maddrey shared with The Post. He emphasized that while the NYPD respects the right to protest, any acts of violence or discord will not be tolerated and will be addressed promptly.
Spectators will have access to the parade route through five designated points: 61st Street, 63rd Street, 66th Street, 70th Street, and 73rd Street. The report in The Post indicated that these entry points will be monitored by school safety agents who will conduct wanding, and counterterrorism personnel will be on site to ensure an added layer of security.
The theme for this year’s parade, “Bring Them Home Now!”, draws attention to the more than 120 hostages still held in Hamas captivity in Gaza since the brutal October 7 attack in which 1200 Israelis and others were brutally massacred the Post report affirmed. The organizing group, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, aims to highlight this issue through the parade’s message.
“This parade… is an affirmation of our love and pride, unwavering pride in our Jewish identity, our Jewish heritage, our community, our unwavering support for Israel and for the immediate release of the hostages that they are returned home back to their loved ones and their families,” said Mark Treyger, CEO of the council, at a briefing on Friday, according to The Post report.
He continued, “It is a testament to the city that we are. New York is a city for all people, including the vibrant Jewish community that helped positively contribute to New York and to American rights.”
President Biden reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Israel, stating, “Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” Credit: AP
(AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the grinding, nearly 8-month-old Mideast war.
Biden added that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release the remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire.
The Democratic president in remarks from the White House called the proposal “a road map to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages.”
Biden said the first phase of the proposed deal would would last for six weeks and would include a “full and complete cease-fire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
🚨 Breaking: Biden’s roadmap for H×mas’ continued rule over Gaza after a full Israeli retreat 👇
“Qatar will guarantee that H×mas will not attack Israel again” 🤣
American hostages would be released at this stage, and remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families. Humanitarian assistance would surge during the first phase, with 600 trucks being allowed into Gaza each day.
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The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza.
“And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary cease-fire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposals, ‘the cessation of hostilities permanently,’” Biden said.
The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war.
But Biden acknowledged that keeping the deal on track would be difficult, saying there are a number of “details to negotiate” to move from the first phase to the second.
Biden’s remarks came as the Israeli military confirmed that its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. Biden called it “a truly a decisive moment.” He added that Hamas said it wants a cease-fire and that an Israeli-phased deal is an opportunity to prove “whether they really mean it.”
Israel has faced growing international criticism for its strategy of systematic destruction in Gaza, at a huge cost in civilian lives. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.
Cease-fire talks ground to a halt at the beginning of the month after a major push by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal, in hopes of averting a planned Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah. The talks were stymied by a central sticking point: Hamas demands guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza completely in return for a release of all the hostages, a demand Israel rejects.
Michael Stürzenberger, an anti-Islamic, conservative politician in Germany, was stabbed along with a police officer and another man before getting neutralized.
BREAKING; WARNING:
GERMANY: A brutal stabbing attack by an Islamist terrorist in the center of a German city.
Moments ago, several people were stabbed in downtown Mannheim, West Germany. They are in critical condition. The terrorist has been neutralized. pic.twitter.com/fjOf13AriK
Marchers head up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade, June 4, 2023. Photo by Ryan Rahman/Shutterstock.
(JNS) The New York City Police Department announced it will be doubling its normal presence on Sunday’s annual “Celebrate Israel Parade,” devoting half of the officers present to deal with an expected contingent of pro-Hamas protesters.
The New York Jewish community has seen many violent disruptions over the past several years by Hamas supporters.
The parade route runs north on Fifth Avenue from 57th to 74th streets. It has been held annually in New York City since 1964. In 2011, its name was changed from the Salute to Israel Parade to the Celebrate Israel Parade.
A survey of Jewish New Yorkers released on Thursday shows significant concern over safety heading into the parade.
While a small sample of respondents answered artificial intelligence-powered questions, bringing the survey’s accuracy into question, the feedback reflected anxiety among the local Jewish community, which has increased since Israel launched a campaign in Gaza following the Hamas massacre of southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7.
The majority of those planning on attending the parade up Fifth Avenue said the situation in Israel and the United States since Oct. 7 has impacted their decisions.
Only one in five respondents who attended the parade in the last five years plan to do so again this year, with 16% “probably attending” and 5% saying they will “definitely” attend.
Even among those in the “definite” column, 78% said they are “very concerned” about their safety due to the rise of American antisemitism in the wake of Israel’s response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, Israel’s war against Hamas and the rise of antisemitism in the U.S.
An eye-popping 79% of respondents said they were either “unlikely” to attend or had not yet decided.
Of those planning on going, 64% are either “very” or “somewhat” concerned for their safety for the first time.
The survey of 287 Jewish New Yorkers was conducted over two days last week and was commissioned by Belong, which provides relocation; travel; and educational services to immigrants, tourists and students.
“Jews are worried about being supportive of Israel and scared for their safety in the streets of New York City, and this should concern American and Israeli decision-makers alike. It is important for the American Jewish community to know: We see you, and we support you,” said Eilon Gilad, CEO of Belong.
“This year’s parade isn’t like any other year. Every Jew marching in solidarity with Israel needs to know the Israelis are supporting them and their stance against antisemitism and anti-Israel attacks,” said Gilad. “That’s why it’s so important that even more people attend this year.”
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob addresses members of the European Parliament, Dec. 13, 2022. Credit: European Parliament.
(JNS) The Slovenian Cabinet endorsed a decision to recognize a Palestinian state on Thursday, paving the way for parliament to approve the move in the coming days, the government in Ljubljana announced.
“Today, the government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state,” Prime Minister Robert Golob told reporters at a news conference in the country’s capital.
If parliament votes to approve the decision, the central European nation will follow in the footsteps of Ireland, Spain and Norway, which all formalized their recognition of “Palestine” over the past week.
To mark the move, the Slovenian government on Thursday raised the banner of the Palestine Liberation Organization alongside national and European Union flags in front of a government compound in Ljubljana.
Golob also called for an immediate end to the war against Hamas in Gaza and the release of all hostages taken by the terrorist group on Oct. 7.
“This is the message of peace,” the premier said of his decision to recognize a Palestinian state, seven months after Hamas terrorists murdered some 1,200 people, primarily Jewish civilians.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Ljubljana of rewarding Hamas for “murder, rape, mutilation of bodies, beheading of babies” and of emboldening “the Iranian axis of evil while damaging the close friendship between the Slovenian and Israeli people.
“I hope the Slovenian Parliament rejects this recommendation,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat said in a post on X.
Earlier this month, Golob announced he would be taking the first steps to recognize a Palestinian state, claiming this would act as an incentive to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Recognition of “Palestine” could help expedite discussions at the United Nations on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas and a two-state solution with Israel, he opined.
After Ireland, Norway and Spain announced similar moves on May 22, Jerusalem recalled its envoys and summoned their ambassadors.
“I’m sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security,” Katz tweeted shortly before the Spanish announcement.
“Today’s decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays. After the Hamas terror organization carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after committing heinous sexual crimes witnessed by the world, these countries chose to reward Hamas and Iran by recognizing a Palestinian state,” he continued.
“This distorted step by these countries is an injustice to the memory of the victims of 7/10, a blow to efforts to return the 128 hostages, and a boost to Hamas and Iran’s jihadists, which undermines the chance for peace and questions Israel’s right to self-defense,” added the diplomat.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is finally pulling the trigger. The West Virginia senator announced Friday he will leave the Democrat party, a long-speculated move for the retiring senator.
“My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Manchin posted on X:
Manchin’s party affiliation might not change his style of governance. He reportedly will continue caucusing with Democrats, joining three other independents.
Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Angus King (I-ME) also style themselves as moderates, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-NH) has used his progressive stances to power a large fundraising operation and two presidential runs:
By continuing to caucus with Democrats, Manchin can continue chairing the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
However, the timing of Manchin’s announcement, less than 24 hours after a Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts for falsifying business records, fuels speculation about his next move.
Manchin could opt to run for a third Senate term as an independent. Potential candidates for West Virginia’s Senate seat reportedly must declare themselves a member of a political party by June 1 to run in November under that party’s banner. Candidates have until August 1 to declare their intent to run:
Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV), himself a former Democrat, is the Republican nominee for the Senate seat Manchin is vacating, decisively winning a contested primary. Justice would be a tough opponent for Manchin, who has held office as a Democrat even as West Virginia has shifted massively towards Republicans.
Manchin has also flirted with the possibility of a presidential run. He has criticized President Joe Biden for hostility towards American energy and refusing to fix the border crisis that is “his fault.” And he previously expressed interest in launching a candidacy on the “No Labels” ticket, particularly if Biden had a “health scare.”
Yet Manchin announced in February he “will not be seeking a third-party run” and “will not be involved in a presidential run.”
Any opening for Manchin – or anyone else – to win as a third party or independent candidate is miniscule. The dust has yet to settle after the Manhattan jury’s monumental verdict; however, Trump’s monumental fundraising in the hours after the verdict – overwhelming traffic shut down the GOP’s online fundraising platform Thursday evening – suggests Trump might consolidate or even grow his support.
(JNS) National Students for Justice in Palestine has until June 12 to provide the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability with documentation of its communications related to Oct. 7 and its funding sources, according to a letter sent by the committee chair on Wednesday.
The request includes providing “all documents and communications, regardless of topic, created on or sent between Oct. 6, 2023, and Oct. 8, 2023, inclusive,” wrote Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Comer also requested documents about SJP’s funding, efforts to ensure it isn’t receiving terror-linked financing, comments about Oct. 7, and “the promotion by National SJP of illegal activity or activity providing material support to terrorist organizations including, but not limited to, Hamas.”
“The committee is particularly concerned that organizations promulgating pro-Hamas propaganda and engaging in illegal activities at institutions of higher education might be receiving funding or other support from foreign or domestic sources which support the aims of Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations,” he stated.
In the letter, Comer wrote that National SJP “is founded and controlled by American Muslims for Palestine,” a nonprofit that he said has “substantial ties to Hamas via its financial sponsor, Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation.”
Jason Miyares, the attorney general of Virginia, is currently investigating the latter nonprofit, AJP, “for violating state charitable solicitation laws and ‘benefitting or providing support to terrorist organizations,’” Comer wrote. He added that current board members of American Muslims for Palestine “have been involved in fundraising for Hamas charities.”
The entrance to the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., May 4, 2019. Credit: Shutterstock/DCStockPhotography
By JNS
The Islamic Republic of Iran is behind a series of terrorist attacks carried out by criminal gangs targeting Israeli embassies throughout Europe since Oct. 7, the Mossad intelligence agency said on Thursday.
The Israeli intelligence agency opened up a probe alongside European counterparts after an object believed to be a hand grenade was thrown towards the Israeli embassy in Stockholm on Jan. 31.
Following an investigation, detectives concluded that Sweden’s Foxtrot organized crime network carried out the attack on the compound at Tehran’s behest, the Mossad said on Thursday.
Dozens of Iran-backed terrorist plots against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe were uncovered in recent months, many of which used local criminal rings, the agency said.
Two weeks ago, Stockholm police opened an investigation after a patrol heard gunshots near the embassy of the Jewish state. The Mossad said on Thursday that Swedish security forces arrested a 14-year-old suspect in connection with the attack, which was said to have been carried out by a crime group called Rumba and also directed by Iran.
Tehran-backed gangs are also thought to have carried out an attack on Israel’s mission in Brussels, in which two airsoft grenades were thrown.
(Airsoft is a team-based shooting game in which participants eliminate opposing players from play by shooting them with spherical plastic projectiles shot from airsoft guns. Airsoft grenades come in various types and functionalities, including gas airsoft grenades, sound airsoft grenades and airsoft smoke grenades.)
“Iran operates many criminal organizations in Sweden and Europe in general, while taking advantage of the relative advantage of each and sometimes the rivalry between them,” the Mossad statement continued.
Foxtrot and Rumba receive funding and direction from Iran, Jerusalem revealed, adding that they are closely monitored by local intelligence agencies.
In April, Israel renewed calls for other nations to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization and impose “painful” sanctions on Tehran after the regime launched hundreds of missiles and suicide drones at the Jewish state in a direct attack.
Last year, the European Parliament voted in favor of a measure calling for Brussels to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group, but the nonbinding measure was stymied by foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who asserted that such a move was not possible until an E.U. court had ruled on the issue.
IRAN DESCRIBES TALKS WITH IAEA CHIEF AS ‘POSITIVE’
Responding last month to Borrell’s claim that the legal conditions have not been met, Charlie Weimers, a Swedish member of European Parliament for the Conservatives and Reformists group, called the top diplomat a “liar.”
“Here, I have the [European] Council’s secret legal opinion. Nowhere in this document does it say that it has to be an authority in the E.U.,” he said. “You know that. You knew the truth. You shamelessly lied to protect the IRGC. We won’t miss you, Mr. Borrell, but I’m sure the mullahs will.”
(The European Council is a collegiate body that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union. It is part of the executive of the European Union beside the European Commission. It is composed of the heads of state or of government of the E.U. member states, the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission. )
Some E.U. countries, including Germany, are pushing to classify the IRGC as a terrorist organization based on a Düsseldorf court ruling holding Tehran responsible for an attack on a synagogue in November 2022.
People gather for “Solidarity Jummah” outside of Columbia University on Friday, April 26. Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura-
By Lieba Nesis
Columbia University’s current anti-Jew hate dates back to the 1930’s when the University showed it welcomed Jewish hate speech. Upon Nazism’s rise in December 1933, Columbia President Nicholas Murray Butler, who paradoxically received a 1931 Nobel Peace Prize, invited Nazi Germany’s ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hans Luther, to speak. Jewish students collected 500 signatures to protest Luther and Nazism while President Butler remained steadfast in his choice declaring Luther, “a gentleman, honest and well mannered … as the diplomatic representative of a friendly people.” Butler’s antisemitism was well documented as he pioneered methods to reduce Jewish enrollment at Columbia and extolled Hitler’s expansionist designs. After Hitler assumed power, Butler ignored the boycott of German goods and encouraged Columbia to partake in academic exchanges with Nazi Germany. Luther’s Columbia speech was met with 1000 student protestors, as he denied the oppression and militarism of Nazi Germany with complete silence from the administration.
President Minouche Shafik AP
Fast forward to 2007 and Columbia’s President Lee Bollinger, a free speech and First Amendment legal scholar, invites genocidal Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak despite Iran’s savage mistreatment of Jews and Mahmoud’s stated desire to repeat the Holocaust. Bollinger’s introduction calls Ahmadinejad a “petty and cruel dictator” and criticizes Mahmoud’s repeated Holocaust denials as well as his desire for Israel to be “wiped off the map.” Bollinger’s phony attempts at whitewashing the horrific invitation under the guise of free speech didn’t go unnoticed. Just as his predecessor Butler justified the invitation to Nazi’s Ambassador, Bollinger has longed masked his tolerance for antisemitism with powerful words and zero action-part of the Columbia handbook. Who can forget October 1995’s Columbia Spectator article where president of the Black Student Organization, Sharod Baker, referred to Jews as “tricksters”, “devils” and “leeches sucking the blood from the Black community” while “disguising evilness under the skirts and costumes of the rabbis…as their yarmulkes contain the blood of billions of Africans weighing on their heads.” As per Columbia’s custom, President George Rupp sent out a pathetically weak letter declaring the article “shameful and unacceptable” while allowing Baker to remain on campus without any repercussions.
The 79-year-old Lee Bollinger succeeded Rupp in 2002 through June 2023 and masked his anti-Jewishness with frequent diatribes against rising campus antisemitism along with repeatedly voting against divestment from Israel. Yet, beneath Bollinger’s pro-Israel visage Jew hatred flourished under the guise of his diehard commitment to free speech. September 2019 was another black day in Columbia’s history as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad who called Jews “hook-nosed” and claimed “Jews rule the world by proxy” was greeted with open arms by Bollinger who said he was “strongly resolved to insist the campus remain an open forum and protect the freedoms essential to our university community.” This bullshit jargon was disproved as in 2006 Jim Gilchrist head of the anti-immigration group “The Minuteman Project” was bullied off stage by Columbia protestors and then canceled a year later without a word from Bollinger. More glaring was the barring of Nonie Darwish’s speech in November 2009 by Muslim activists, as the Egyptian American Nonie is an outspoken critic of Islam and supporter of Israel a no-no on Columbia’s campus. Once again Bollinger remained silent despite being an ardent advocate of free speech. In 2018 Elizabeth Midlarsky, a professor at Teacher’s College at Columbia found large red swastikas on her wall with the words “YID” inscribed after a similar swastika incident in 2007 was accompanied by antisemitic fliers. Midlarsky’s work researching the Holocaust made her an obvious Columbia target. Yet, Bollinger did nothing to find the perpetrators as antisemitic incidents increased due to few safeguards enacted. In December 2019 a Columbia University student along with The Lawfare Project filed a Title 6 Civil Rights Act complaint alleging antisemitism claiming that Jewish students were “singled out and discriminated against under the guise of pro-Palestinian advocacy.” Some examples cited were: vandalizing the offices of pro-Israel groups; Holocaust events interrupted by Students for Justice in Palestine screaming “intifada”; and “Israel Apartheid Week” on campus-a week of events decrying Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. A paradigm of Columbia’s tolerance for antisemitism is the 2005 investigation of tenured Professor Joseph Massad who remarked the “Jewish state is a racist state that doesn’t have a right to exist.” In 2002 Massad asked an Israeli student, “how many Palestinians have you killed?” Massad loved to call Palestinians the “New Jews” and Jews the “new Nazis”; and yet an ad-hoc Columbia committee cleared Massad of antisemitism charges in 2005 and gave him tenure in 2009 under Bollinger’s leadership.
Pro-Hamas demonstrators gather for a protest at Columbia University, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Bollinger a huge proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), invested $185 million to ensure faculty diversity. Under his leadership in 2010 Columbia launched its Center for Palestine Studies which is distinctly anti-Israel and expanded its postcolonial program in 2018 the year they opened the Center for the Study of Muslim Societies. Columbia’s postcolonial programs have steadily pushed BDS, Islamist and anti-Israel narratives. While Bollinger consistently voted against BDS his race based programs have paradoxically made Columbia’s Union Theological Seminary, the first private institution to divest. Bollinger created the environment for unlawful campus protests by stating in 2018, the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam protests, that bringing police on campus in 1968 was “a serious breach of the ethos of the University.”
Joseph Massad
And so Bollinger while claiming to decry antisemitism has set up a university that gives tenure to antisemitic professors, encourages antisemitic hate speech and advocates for terrorist hate groups Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. On October 4th 2023 President Minouche Shafik took the reins of a school permeated by Jew hatred nurtured in the Middle Eastern South, Asian and African Studies Department (MESAAS). The same Massad who taunted an IDF student and was granted tenure in 2009 praised the October 7th Hamas massacre as “astounding” and “amazing” while Columbia once again did nothing. Shafik and her administration allowed dangerous protests calling for the murder of Jews and threatening Jewish students with death to continue as per her predecessor’s example. As Jews became increasingly isolated in April a shelter in place order for Jewish students was enacted as antisemites took over the campus and Hamilton Hall. Under the tutelage of George Rupp, and Lee Bollinger, Columbia continues its paralysis against antisemitism as hate organizations are suspended and reinstated a day later; antisemitism disguised as free speech continues to remain the paramount virtue as exhibited by the welcoming of the Nazi party in the 1930’s.
In a groundbreaking legal milestone, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has achieved what no other prosecutor in American history has done: securing a conviction against a former U.S. president. According to a report in The New York Post, on Thursday, Bragg expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the case against Donald J. Trump, who was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump has been convicted of falsifying company documents, a case stemming from allegations that he orchestrated a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. This payment, facilitated by Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, aimed to silence Daniels’ claims of an affair with Trump during the crucial lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, according to the Post report.
The prosecution, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, represents a significant escalation in the legal scrutiny surrounding Trump and his business dealings.
‘The defendant, Donald J Trump is guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election’
DA Alvin Bragg makes a statement on the conviction of Donald Trump, calling the former President a defendant ‘like no other in history’. pic.twitter.com/DE8Ofz5fze
Standing alongside his dedicated team, Bragg emphasized the significance of the jury’s verdict and underscored the integrity and thoroughness of the judicial process. “Donald J. Trump has been convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records,” Bragg announced, his tone resolute and his stance firm, The Post report observed. He took a moment to acknowledge the hard work and diligence of the jurors, describing them as “12 everyday New Yorkers” who were “careful and attentive” throughout the trial.
“This type of white-collar prosecution is core to what we do at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office,” Bragg stated, at the press conference on Thursday. The Post report indicated that he took pride in the thorough investigation and prosecution that led to the conviction, reflecting on the importance of adherence to the facts and the law.
When pressed about potential sentencing, Bragg remained non-committal regarding whether he would seek jail time for Trump, who faces a maximum of four years in prison for each charge, the Post report said. At the very least, Trump could be placed on probation, a decision that remains pending as the legal proceedings continue.
“I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor and that’s exactly what we did here,” Bragg boasted.
The trial has not been without its controversies, with Trump and his supporters alleging that the prosecution was politically motivated, aimed at derailing his potential 2024 presidential bid. The report in the Post noted that despite these accusations, Bragg maintained a silence on the matter. When asked if he had a response to Trump’s criticisms, Bragg succinctly replied, “I do not.”
“While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors — by following the facts, and the law, and doing so without fear or favor,” Bragg asserted.
In April 2023, Bragg made headlines by bringing forth this unprecedented criminal case against Trump. The case built on investigations initiated by Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., and it represented a comprehensive effort to hold Trump accountable for alleged financial misconduct, as per the information contained in The Post report. Michael Cohen, once a loyal ally of Trump, became the prosecution’s star witness, providing crucial testimony about the hush money payment and its cover-up.
The conviction is not Bragg’s first encounter with Trump-related legal issues. In 2022, his office successfully prosecuted the Trump Organization on charges of orchestrating a 15-year tax fraud scheme. As detailed in The Post report, this case revealed how the company’s longtime Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg, admitted to evading taxes on company perks such as a luxury car and a rent-free apartment. Although Trump was not personally charged in that case, the conviction of his organization set a significant precedent.
Bragg’s investigation into Trump’s business practices extended beyond the hush money payment. He inherited a probe from Vance into whether Trump had misrepresented the values of his real estate properties. Despite internal pressures, Bragg decided not to pursue charges in this particular matter, a decision that stirred controversy within the district attorney’s office, the Post report indicated. This choice illustrated the complex considerations and high stakes involved in prosecuting a former president.
Bragg’s legal battles with Trump date back to his tenure as New York State’s Chief Deputy Attorney General from 2017 to 2018. During this period, Bragg played a pivotal role in the lawsuit that led to the dissolution of the Donald J. Trump Foundation. The information in the Post report said that the foundation, which was found to have engaged in a pattern of illegal conduct, was ordered to pay $2 million in damages. This experience added to Bragg’s understanding of Trump’s business practices and provided a foundation for his later prosecutorial efforts.
The crux of the indictment centered on the accusation that Trump and his associates engaged in a scheme to subvert the truth by misclassifying these hush money payments as legitimate legal expenses. The Post report indicated that the grand jury was presented with evidence suggesting that these payments were, in reality, bribes intended to prevent potentially damaging stories from surfacing and influencing the outcome of the election.
Michael Cohen, who had already been convicted for perjury and other crimes, emerged as the prosecution’s star witness. Despite his tarnished credibility, Cohen’s testimony was pivotal. He confessed to having altered financial records to facilitate the creation of shell companies, which were then used to channel payments to Daniels and others, the Post report said. This manipulation of records, according to the indictment, was part of a broader effort to hide the true nature of the transactions and shield Trump from public scrutiny.
Michael Cohen’s involvement added a layer of complexity to the trial. As Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Cohen had intimate knowledge of the inner workings of Trump’s business and personal dealings. The Post observed that his fall from grace, marked by a conviction for lying to Congress and other charges, had transformed him into a controversial yet crucial figure in the prosecution’s case.
Cohen testified that his previous lies under oath were made to protect Trump, revealing a deep entanglement of personal loyalty and legal misconduct. His admission of creating shell companies to manage the payoff to Daniels was a significant revelation. This not only called attention to the lengths to which Trump’s inner circle allegedly went to conceal the payments but also highlighted Cohen’s direct involvement in the illicit activities.
Legal experts and political analysts weighed in on the implications of the conviction. Some viewed it as a long-overdue accountability measure for a figure who had often seemed impervious to legal repercussions. Others saw it as a politically motivated attack designed to discredit a former president who remained influential within his party.
