Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO and co-founder of real estate giant Blackstone, said Friday that he is planning to support former President Donald Trump’s campaign as a “vote for change.”
Mr. Schwarzman cited what he called a “dramatic rise of antisemitism” in the United States that has led him to “focus on the consequences of upcoming elections with greater urgency.”
While he did not go into specifics, the Blackstone CEO is likely referring to a number of left-wing protests across U.S. college campuses and elsewhere against Israeli activity in Gaza following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks led by Hamas.
“I share the concern of most Americans that our economic, immigration and foreign policies are taking the country in the wrong direction. For these reasons, I am planning to vote for change and support Donald Trump for President. In addition, I will be supporting Republican Senate candidates and other Republicans up and down the ticket,” he told multiple news outlets Friday.
Mr. Schwarzman, a billionaire, had been a supporter of the former president while he was in the White House. But after the 2022 midterm elections, he suggested that Republicans look for a “new generation of leaders” and didn’t back a GOP primary candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
He also said at the time that wouldn’t back President Trump’s reelection bid. Before that, he was critical of the former president after the breach at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Mr. Schwarzman, however, was among the top 10 donors during the 2022 elections, according to records filed with the Federal Elections Commission. He and his wife gave some $35 million to preferred candidates during that election cycle, with much of it going toward Republican candidates.
The vast bulk of President Trump’s fundraising historically has come from small donors. Since he left office, about 90 percent of the people donating to his political groups have given less than $650 per calendar year, according to a Reuters analysis of disclosures filed by WinRed, the dominant Republican donation portal, in early 2024.
Mr. Schwarzman’s vow to back the former president comes two days after former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who unsuccessfully ran against President Trump in the 2024 primary, backed the former president’s White House bid.
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On Wednesday, during her first public event since she left the race, Ms. Haley said that the former president is a better candidate than his counterpart, President Joe Biden.
“I’ve made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump,” Ms. Haley said at the Hudson Institute in Washington.
In response, President Trump on Thursday told News 12 in Long Island, New York, that he “appreciated” Ms. Haley said and that she could join his “team,” describing her as a “capable person.” He added, “I think she’s gonna be on our team because we have a lot of the same ideas, the same thoughts.”
“We had a nasty campaign; it was pretty nasty. But she’s a very capable person, and I’m sure she’s going to be on our team in some form. Absolutely,” he continued.
Blackstone is one of the world’s largest real estate companies and is one of the largest investors in leveraged buyouts in the last three decades. It’s not the same as Blackrock, the world’s largest asset management company that has sought to position itself as a leader in the controversial environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies.
Mr. Schwarzman is worth about $38 billion as of May 2024, according to an estimate from Forbes magazine. It places him squarely within the top 50 billionaires worldwide.
Other top donors who have said they would back President Trump include professional wrestling entrepreneur Linda McMahon, a longtime Trump donor who headed the Small Business Administration during the Trump administration, as well as Nevada budget hotel tycoon Robert Bigelow, former Marvel Entertainment Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter, Mellon banking family heir Timothy Mellon, hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer, hotel magnate Steve Wynn, hedge fund manager John Paulson, and more.
“I am pleased to support President Trump in his re-election efforts,” Mr. Paulson told CNN in March. “His policies on the economy, energy, immigration and foreign policy will be very beneficial for the country.”
“We are receiving an overwhelming amount of support from donors,” he told the channel. “This support, along with the landslide victory he achieved in the primaries, shows his strong support amongst Americans.”
President Trump’s campaign has not yet publicly responded to Mr. Schwarzman’s comment on Friday. The Epoch Times contacted Mr. Schwarzman for comment on Friday through email.
Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count—this year, May 26, 2024—is a festive day on the Jewish calendar that honors Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. It is celebrated with outings (on which children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, parades and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of Rabbi Shimon, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
Lag BaOmer is always on the 18th day of the month of Iyar. So what’s up with the name? The word “Lag” is made of of the Hebrew letters lamed (ל) and gimel (ג), which together have the numerical value of 33. “BaOmer” means “of the Omer.” The Omer is the counting period that begins on the second day of Passover and culminates with the holiday of Shavuot, following day 49.
Hence Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the Omer count, which coincides with 18 Iyar. What happened on 18 Iyar that’s worth celebrating?
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the second century of the Common Era, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the Kabbalah, and is the author of the classic text of Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon instructed his disciples to mark the date as “the day of my joy.”
The chassidic masters explain that the final day of a righteous person’s earthly life marks the point at which all their deeds, teachings and work achieve their culminating perfection and the zenith of their impact upon our lives. So each Lag BaOmer, we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of Torah.
Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged among the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva (teacher of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai), “because they did not act respectfully towards each other.” These weeks are therefore observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag BaOmer the deaths ceased. Thus, Lag BaOmer also carries the theme of loving and respecting one’s fellow(ahavat Yisrael).
How Is Lag BaOmer Celebrated
Since this is the day of joy of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, there are major festivities in Meron, the mountain village in northern Israel where he is buried, with tens of thousands of pilgrims pouring in from all corners of the world to rejoice together in unity. Read more about Meron.
All over the world, it is customary to spend the day outside, enjoying the natural beauty of G‑d’s world. During these outings, it is customary to play with bows and arrows.
The mourning practices of the Omer period (see above) are lifted for this day. As a result:
music is playing and people are singing and dancing with abandon.
little boys who turned three during the Omer period but did not have their first haircut (upsheren) due to the mourning laws, have them today, often at Meron.
weddings are held.
Recognizing the fiery spirit of the mystical teachings that are celebrated today, bonfires are kindled. Get some friends (and a guitar) together, and it becomes a wonderful opportunity for singing, sharing and enjoying each other’s camaraderie.
Beginning in the 1950s, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, encouraged Jewish children to join together in grand Lag BaOmer parades as a show of Jewish unity and pride. Held in front of the Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, the parades attracted—and still attract—thousands of children from all walks of life.
In 1980 the Rebbe gave instructions that Lag BaOmer parades and children’s rallies should take place not only in New York, but across the world, especially in Israel. Thousands of children participated in the tens of rallies that took place that year, and to this day, Chabad organizes hundreds of Lag BaOmer parades around the world every year.
A 1992 Lag BaOmer parade outside the iconic portico of the Moscow Choral Synagogue in the center of the city. Chabad‘s Jewish day school was housed at the Moscow Choral Synagogue until space ran out in 1993.
On Lag BaOmer we celebrate the life and teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who authored the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism. Forced into hiding to escape the Roman oppressors of his time, Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar hid in a cave for 13 years, where they subsisted on carobs from a tree which miraculously sprouted at the entrance of their cave (and water from a spring that popped up). It’s a long held tradition to eat carob on Lag BaOmer but instad of gnawing on the rock-hard pods (unless you get them soft and fresh), find out how to prepare it properly.
A relatively unknown Lag BaOmer custom, which has deep roots in Chabad history, is to eat eggs that have been hard-boiled with onion peels. Try it, and you’ll see that they turn a pretty shade of reddish brown. It has been suggested that the reason for this custom is that eggs are a sign of mourning. During this holiday, when the traditional mourning of the Omer period has been partially lifted, we still eat eggs, but brighten them up with a splash of color.
Some of the Lag BaOmer customs involve spending time outdoors—such as lighting bonfires and playing with bows and arrows—which often leads to picnics and barbecues (especially when the weather is beautiful!).
Here are some delicious outdoorsy, barbecue-friendly recipes for you to enjoy:
End off with this refreshing and fun fruit dessert. Or turn it into an activity for the kids. Set up a table with bowls of fruit and skewers and let people build their own kebabs.
(JNS) A U.S. Senate resolution that condemns the decision of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to apply for warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant drew signatures from 24 senators of both parties.
The resolution, led by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), resolves that the Senate “stands with Israel and fully rejects the action by the International Criminal Court against senior Israeli officials.”
“Congress and the executive branch should impose financial sanctions and visa bans on officials of the International Criminal Court for an abuse of power that threatens United States interests and weakens United States allies,” the senators resolved.
“The United States should urge its allies and partners, who largely fund the International Criminal Court, to use their leverage to halt the politicized proceedings,” they added.
“The International Criminal Court’s decision to charge Israeli leadership with war crimes is shocking and disgraceful,” Manchin said. “Israel is facing an existential threat in Hamas’s brutal terrorist agenda, and I have continued to support the country’s right to defend itself in a manner expected of a nation that abides by the law of armed conflict.”
Reuters and Washington Free Beacon Staff
Israel has vowed to defy a ruling from the top United Nations court that called on the Jewish state to halt its military assault on the Hamas-controlled southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Reading out the ruling by the International Court of Justice or World Court, the body’s president, Nawaf Salam, said the situation in the Palestinian enclave had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to take steps to improve it.
“The state of Israel shall … immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” Salam said.
Israel has repeatedly dismissed the case’s accusations of genocide as baseless, arguing in court that its operations in Gaza are self-defense and targeted at Hamas militants who attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
An Israeli government spokesman said on the eve of Friday’s decision that “no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.”
The ICJ, the highest U.N. body for hearing disputes between states, has no enforcement powers.
The court also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid and said the country must provide access to the enclave for investigators and report back on its progress within one month.
The order was adopted by the panel of 15 judges from around the world in a 13-2 vote, opposed only by judges from Uganda and from Israel itself.
It was handed down a week after it was requested by South Africa as part of a case accusing Israel of genocide.
Outside, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and played a rap on a boom box calling for a Palestinian state.
Israel launched its assault on the southern city of Rafah this month, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee a city that had become a refuge to around half of the population’s 2.3 million people.
Rafah, on Gaza’s southern edge, has also been the main route in for aid, and international organisations say the Israeli operation has cut off the enclave and raised the risk of famine.
EMERGENCY MEASURES
South Africa’s lawyers asked the ICJ last week to impose emergency measures, saying Israel’s attacks on Rafah must be stopped to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.
A decision against Israel could heap more diplomatic pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court—a separate court also based in The Hague—announced on Monday he had filed an application for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as leaders of Hamas.
Prosecutor Karim Khan accused Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including extermination, using hunger as a weapon, and deliberately attacking civilians. Israel strongly denied those charges and called on allies to repudiate the court.
South Africa’s wider case at the ICJ accuses Israel of orchestrating a state-led genocide against the Palestinian people. The ICJ has not ruled on the substance of that accusation—this could take years—but has rejected Israel’s demand to throw the case out.
In previous rulings, the court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and allow aid to flow into Gaza, while stopping short of ordering a halt to Israeli military operations.
Israel launched its air and ground war on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 35,000 Palestinians have since been killed in the offensive, Gaza’s health ministry says.
(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch; additional reporting by Mayaan Lubell in Jerusalem; writing by Peter Graff; editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich.)
Democratic representatives Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) praised the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor’s call for the court to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The far-left “Squad” members commended the prosecutor, Karim Khan, for seeking to charge Netanyahu, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu on Monday called the ICC’s move a “moral outrage of historic proportions” and described Khan as one of the “great antisemites in modern times.”
Israel is “waging a just war against Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that perpetrated the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Netanyahu said.
The “Squad” members, meanwhile, used Khan’s request as justification for their anti-Israel views.
“The ICC has their process of determining what’s a war crime and what isn’t,” Bowman, who is trailing his pro-Israel opponent in a tough primary race, said on Thursday. “Obviously, the warrants for the Hamas fighters who did what they did on October 7 are warranted, and it seems like they are warranted for Netanyahu as well.”
Bush in a video released Friday said the arrest warrants are an “important” step and slammed her congressional colleagues and the Biden administration for “sending billions of dollars to enable Netanyahu’s war crimes.”
Omar, meanwhile, described Khan’s allegations against Netanyahu as “significant” and said the ICC “must be allowed to conduct its work independently and without interference.” The Minnesota congresswoman has faced widespread criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for her long history of anti-Semitic comments.
Tlaib earlier this month called for the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, accusing the leader and senior Israeli officials of committing a “genocide” against Palestinians. Like Omar, Tlaib has faced extensive backlash from her Democratic colleagues, notably after she last year defended the phrase “from the river to the sea.”
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.) noted that the phrase “means eradicating Israel and Jews,” NBC reported in November.
(AP) — Charles Leclerc took pole position for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix and ended Max Verstappen’s bid for a record-extending ninth straight pole on Saturday.
Verstappen, who shares the Formula 1 record with the late Ayrton Senna, starts Sunday’s race from sixth place for Red Bull on arguably the most difficult track for overtaking in the series.
Leclerc secured his third pole in four years at Monaco, where he grew up overlooking the start-finish line, and took his career total to 24 poles.
“This weekend has been incredible,” he said.
He finished .154 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and .248 clear of Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. McLaren’s Lando Norris qualified fourth followed by Mercedes driver George Russell.
“Really, really happy about the lap,” Leclerc said. “I know more often than not that qualifying is not everything in the race.”
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Leclerc took pole in 2021, but could not start due to a gearbox problem. He led from pole in 2022 until Ferrari made an incorrect call to change his tires.
“The team has got a lot stronger since then,” said Leclerc, who also led the second and third practice sessions.
Verstappen endures a rare bad day in F1 but it’s worse for Red Bull teammate Perez
He is well set to end his run of nearly two years without a win, dating to July 2022 at the Austrian GP.
“I just need a good launch (from the start),” said Leclerc, who has won five F1 races in his career.
McLaren is in good form, with Norris winning the Miami GP three weeks ago and almost catching Verstappen at the end of last weekend’s Emilia Romagna GP.
“The pace was good,” Piastri said. “We came into this weekend pretty confident that we could be in the fight for the pole and the win again.”
Sainz, however, was not completely satisfied with his Ferrari.
“When you’re so close to the walls it immediately takes away confidence,” Sainz said. “Losing the rear (of the car) in places you don’t expect to lose it.”
Lewis Hamilton starts from seventh place, with Yuki Tsunoda (RB), Alexander Albon (Williams) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) completing the top 10.
“I’ve been pushing the limits everywhere and the qualifying laps felt good,” Hamilton said. “The car is feeling much better than it has in Monaco in previous years.”
Traffic forced a couple of drivers to swerve around other cars struggling for space on Monaco’s tight and sinewy 3.3-kilometer (two-mile) street circuit.
Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso narrowly avoided a piece of debris just before heading into the tunnel section during Q1, the first part of qualifying.
Alonso failed to make it into Q2 and so did Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who muttered an expletive on race radio. He is out of contract at the end of the season and Red Bull has yet to confirm he will get a seat for 2025.
Alonso starts 16th with Perez in 18th.
“I got traffic on my lap, enough to lose a couple of tenths. That will have changed the lap dramatically,” Perez said. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t put it together, and this is the result of it. Unfortunately we are out.”
Verstappen won the race from pole last year but will be hard pushed to win his sixth race of the season.
Before the third practice, he chatted with Liverpool soccer player Virgil van Dijk as they enjoyed the sunshine on the rooftop of Red Bull’s motorhome.
The two Dutchmen used binoculars to view the scenery; such as the armada of giant yachts and Prince Albert’s palace perched over the track.
Perhaps they chatted about the upcoming European Championship, where Van Dijk captains the Netherlands as it hopes to win its first international trophy since Euro 1988.
Verstappen’s winning habit saw him clinch an F1 record 19 victories last year — beating his own record from 2022 — and he is already third on F1’s all-time list with 59 as he chases a fourth straight world title.
But he did not lead in any of the three practice sessions in Monaco. He was even called to the stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly midway though the final session, and received a warning for it.
Early in P3, the red flag came out after Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas scraped a wall exiting the swimming pool chicane.
Maniac with Flaming Liquid Attacks NYC Subway Rider; 30% of Victim’s Body Severely Burned
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a harrowing incident on the New York City subway, Petrit Alijaj, 23, demonstrated extraordinary bravery when he shielded his fiancée from a sudden and brutal attack involving flaming liquid. Alijaj, currently hospitalized, recounted the traumatic event to the New York Post from his bed at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for severe burns.
The shocking attack occurred on Saturday as Alijaj, his fiancée, and his cousin were traveling on the No. 1 train en route to visit the Statue of Liberty. According to The Post report, it was around 2:45 p.m. when the train pulled into the Varick Street station in lower Manhattan. The tranquility of their afternoon was shattered by the entrance of Nile Taylor, a 49-year-old man who boarded the train holding a cup filled with an unknown liquid.
“He had a cup,” Alijaj recalled, pointing to a similar cup on his bedside table, as was reported by The Post. “Like this, maybe smaller, something inside, like oil. He made fire and he threw it all.”
Taylor, without warning, ignited the liquid and hurled it towards the group. As per the information provided in The Post report, in a split-second decision, Alijaj leapt in front of his fiancée, taking the brunt of the fiery attack. The liquid, described as having the consistency of oil, caused severe burns across Alijaj’s upper body.
Amid the chaos, Taylor also fled the scene, and Alijaj feared he might return with more flammable liquid. The report in The Post said that as he ran, Alijaj managed to tear off his smoldering T-shirt. Initially, he did not realize the severity of his burns but soon noticed blisters forming on his neck, ears, chest, arms, and left hand. His shirt ignited, and he frantically slapped himself to extinguish the flames while fleeing the train. “I touched myself to put out the fire,” he recalled to The Post. “So while I was running I was burning.”
Authorities have apprehended Nile Taylor and are investigating the motive behind the unprovoked attack.
Alijaj, who is originally from Albania, lay covered in bandages in his hospital bed, his upper body enveloped in protective dressings. Indicated in The Post report was that doctors informed him that he sustained burns on 30 percent of his body, a grim prognosis that will require him to stay in the hospital for at least a week. Gratefully, Alijaj’s face remained unscathed. “Thank God,” he told The Post, explaining that he managed to cover his face during the attack.
Upon arriving at the hospital, it became clear how extensive his injuries were. “I didn’t think the burns were that bad at first,” Alijaj told The Post. “But when I got to the hospital, I saw blisters all over.”
Despite the severity of his injuries, Alijaj remained resolute, stating that his actions were worth it to protect his beloved. “It was worth it,” he affirmed to The Post, as he reflected on the selfless act that likely saved his fiancée from similar or worse injuries.
The physical agony from the burns has been somewhat alleviated by medication, but Alijaj vividly remembers the initial, excruciating pain. “Not so much pain now,” he mentioned while speaking with The Post.
Alijaj, who has been living in New York for about a year, has received an outpouring of support from the community, the Post report said. His story of courage and selflessness has touched many, drawing well-wishes from friends, family, and strangers alike.
As Alijaj continues to recover, the city of New York stands by him, honoring his heroism and resilience, and advocating for a safer environment for all its residents.
(AP) — Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday night, with many in the crowd shouting insults and decrying him for things like his COVID-19 policies, running up towering federal deficits and lying about his political record.
When he took the stage, many jeered while some supporters clad in “Make America Great” hats and T-shirts cheered and chanted “USA! USA!” It was a rare moment of Trump coming face-to-face with open detractors, which is highly unusual for someone accustomed to staging rallies in front of ever-adoring crowds.
Libertarians, who prioritize small government and individual freedoms, are often skeptical of the former president, and his invitation to address the convention has divided the party. Trump tried to make light of that by referring to the four criminal indictments against him and joking, “If I wasn’t a Libertarian before, I sure as hell am a Libertarian now.”
Trump tried to praise “fierce champions of freedom in this room” and called President Joe Biden a “tyrant” and the “worst president in the history of the United States,” prompting some in the audience to scream back: “That’s you.”
Lara Trump touts RNC changes and a 2024 presidential victory for Trump in North Carolina
As the insults continued, Trump eventually hit back, saying “you don’t want to win” and suggesting that some Libertarians want to “keep getting your 3% every four years.”
What to know about the 2024 Election
Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson won about 3% of the national vote in 2016, but nominee Jo Jorgensen got only a bit more than 1% during 2020’s close contest.
Libertarians will pick their White House nominee during their convention, which wraps on Sunday. Trump’s appearance also gave him a chance to court voters who might otherwise support independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who gave his own Libertarian convention speech on Friday.
Polls have shown for months that most voters do not want a 2020 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden. That dynamic could potentially boost support for an alternative like the Libertarian nominee or Kennedy, whose candidacy has allies of Biden and Trump concerned that he could be a spoiler.
Despite the raucous atmosphere, Trump continued to press on with his speech, saying he’d come “to extend a hand of friendship” in common opposition to Biden. That prompted a chant of “We want Trump!” from supporters, but more cries of “End the Fed!” — a common refrain from Libertarians who oppose the Federal Reserve. One person who held up a sign reading “No wannabe dictators!” was dragged away by security.
Trump tried to win over the crowd by pledging to include a Libertarian in his Cabinet, but many in the crowd hissed in disbelief. The former president did get a big cheer when he promised to commute the life sentence of the convicted founder of the drug-selling website Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, and potentially release him on time served.
That was designed to energize Libertarian activists who believe government investigators overreached in building their case against Silk Road, and who generally oppose criminal drug policies more broadly. Ulbricht’s case was much-discussed during the Libertarian convention, and many of the hundreds in the crowd for Trump’s speech hoisted “Free Ross” signs and chanted the phrase as he spoke.
Despite those promises, many in the crowd remained antagonistic. One of the candidates vying for the Libertarian presidential nomination, Michael Rectenwald, declared from the stage before the former president arrived that “none of us are great fans of Donald Trump.” After his speech, Rectenwald and other Libertarian White House hopefuls took the stage to scoff at Trump and his speech.
Those for and against Trump even clashed over seating arrangements. About two hours before the former president’s arrival, Libertarian organizers asked Trump supporters in the crowd to vacate the first four rows. They wanted convention delegates — many of whom said they’d traveled from around the country and bought expensive tickets to the proceedings — could sit close enough to hear the speech.
Many of the original seat occupants moved, but organizers eventually brought in more seats to calm things down.
The Libertarian split over Trump was reflected by Peter Goettler, president and chief executive of the libertarian Cato Institute, who suggested in a Washington Post column that the former president’s appearance violated the gathering’s core values and that “the political party pretending to be libertarian has transitioned to a different identity.”
Trump’s campaign noted that Biden didn’t attend the Libertarian convention himself, and argued that the former president’s doing so was part of an ongoing effort to reach would-be supporters in places that are not heavily Republican — including the former president’s rally Thursday in the Bronx during a pause in his New York hush money trial.
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The Libertarian ticket will try to draw support from disaffected Republicans as well as people on the left. Such voters could also gravitate toward Kennedy.
Trump didn’t dwell on Kennedy on Saturday night. But, after previously praising him and once considering him for a commission on vaccination safety, the former president has gone on the attack against Kennedy. He suggested on social media that a vote for Kennedy would be a “wasted protest vote” and that he would “even take Biden over Junior.”
The former president, while in office, referred to the COVID-19 vaccine as “one of the greatest miracles in the history of modern-day medicine.” He’s since accused Kennedy of being a “fake” opponent of vaccines.
In his speech at the Libertarian convention, Kennedy accused Trump and Biden of trampling on personal liberties in response to the pandemic. Trump bowed to pressure from public health officials and shut down businesses, Kennedy said, while Biden was wrong to mandate vaccines for millions of workers.
For his part, Biden has promoted winning the endorsement of many high-profile members of the Kennedy family, in an attempt to marginalize their relative’s candidacy.
Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for Biden’s reelection campaign, slammed Trump and top Republicans for opposing access to abortion and supporting limits on civil society, saying in a statement Saturday, that “freedom isn’t free in Trump’s Republican Party and this weekend will be just one more reminder of that.”
Grand Opening of “The Bar” & Lounge at The Wave Resort at Pier Village Kicks Off Memorial Day Weekend
Edited by: TJVNews.com
The Wave Resort, a coastal escape in the jewel box of Pier Village, along the Jersey Shore will be holding a much anticipated grand opening today at 5 pm for their new lounge area and “The Bar.”
The Wave Resort has received a fresh renovation, with newly-refurbished spaces by the interior design firm Ovadia Design Group, founded by Principal Designer, Jack Ovadia. Based in New York City, the firm showcases a portfolio of projects along the unique locale of the Jersey Shore, illustrating their skill in bringing the essence of summer to life.
The Wave Resort has reimagined selected areas, including the lobby lounge, featuring a den/game area, and “The Bar”, alongside the resort’s newest hotspot for Instagram-worthy moments, “Call Your Bubbi Bagels”. Embracing the coastal ambiance tailored for The Wave Resort, Ovadia Design Group has seamlessly designed these areas to reflect the timeless allure of the seaside. Every detail evokes the tranquility of ocean living, promising a unique and elevated experience for guests.
The Wave Resort’s latest renovation introduces a palette of vibrant pastels and incorporates natural elements, elevating the chic aesthetics and coastal appeal. The reinvented spaces not only invite visitors to indulge in unforgettable experiences but also serve as picturesque backdrops, ensuring lasting memories of The Wave Resort’s newly founded ambiance and serene design.
On Memorial Day weekend back in 2019, Nicole Kushner Meyer, principal of the New York-based Kushner real estate development group, kicked things off with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the six-story, 67-room Wave Resort.
The Wave Resort is one of three Kushner-owned hotels at Long Branch’s beachfront, according to the Asbury Park Press. The others are The Bungalow, a 24-room boutique hotel and the 102-room Onada Surf Club. Due to the major role played by Kushner Cos in development on the Jersey Shore, Pier Village has become a popular destination for luxury oriented vacationers and beach goers from around the world.
On Memorial Day weekend back in 2019, Nicole Kushner Meyer, principal of the New York-based Kushner real estate development group, kicked things off with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the six-story, 67-room Wave Resort.
Kushner, the sister of former White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner said that those involved in the project were “focused on developing Pier Village into a year-round Town Center for Long Branch.” Her father, Charles Kushner, formerly owned a home in the area.
Construction of the boutique hotel at Pier Village began in January 2018. The project also features 245 high-end condos called The Lofts, which carry a price tag ranging from $569,000 to $2.4 million.
Wave Resort’s rooms were designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA). Each room is configured to provide views of the Atlantic Ocean from terraces and through floor-to-ceiling, wall-to wall windows. Blackened wood finishes and rope details were integrated throughout, according to Hotel Management Magazine.
“Upon entering the living room-style lobby, eyes will immediately be drawn to a bespoke, gallery-worthy concrete reception desk,” is how Hospitality Design described it. “Framed vistas juxtaposed with natural, warm raw materials; color-blocked, dusty, sunset-toned fabrics; and crisp graphic designs make for an interactive and inviting foyer space that is perfect for relaxing with a cocktail or playing pool with friends. Each restaurant and bar, from the boardwalk café to the richly toned brasserie-style fine dining room to the second-floor pool deck, serve as a collection of communal lounging spaces that seamlessly transition from work to play throughout the day.”
Its seven food and beverage outlets include seasonal fine dining seafood and coastal casual restaurants; a boardwalk coffee shop; swim-up pool bar; and a hybrid burger-and-taco shop. The dining venues were influenced by Pier Village’s boardwalk.
The founder and principal designer of the eponymously named Ovadia Design Group, Jack Ovadia, described his inspirations for the design concept at the heart of the renovations of the Wave Resort.
“Visiting the shore over the summer my entire life, I wanted to give summer escapists a retreat – a space where they could experience the essence of summer: it’s vibrancy, breeziness, and joy of the seaside,” explained Mr. Ovadia.
Mr. Ovadia added that, “Immersing ourselves in the vibrant community of Pier Village, our team meticulously studied how visitors and residents interact with the locale. It became evident that there was a need for a refined setting where adults could unwind, whether catching up on work during the day or winding down with a nightcap after dinner. “The Bar” embodies this vision.”
With a palpable enthusiasm in his voice, Mr. Ovadia said, “Our goal was to bring a unique sense of Miami to the Jersey Shore, intertwining a vibrant palette and a timeless allure that embodies this elevated coastal style.”
He added that “Our concept was to evoke the Jersey Shore with a Miami-inspired ambiance, seamlessly blending a lively color palette with timeless charm to capture this elevated coastal style. At our core, we’re not just about design; we’re about creating unforgettable experiences”.
Renowned for creating timeless environments to withstand time, Jack Ovadia is a multifaceted interior designer, architect by trade, and known for his business acumen.
In 2022, Mr. Ovadia’s firm was featured as the summer cover of Design Magazine and mentioned by Business of Home. Most recently, Mr. Ovadia has been recognized by the American Society of Interior Designers and publications such as Haute Residence, Design Et Al, and more. Mr. Ovadia’s daring approach is powered by functional design and an innate ability to seamlessly merge luxury interiors with architectural design. Based in the heart of New York City, Ovadia Design’s headquarters serves as a global hub where Mr. Ovadia leads his firm to embrace design, elevating and enhancing the art of living for each client. In 2023, Mr. Ovadia collaborated with Propel Network, participating in a live panel representing local design entrepreneurs and encouraging design enthusiasts to excel in shaping the evolution of the design industry.
(DCNF) NBC News’ Dasha Burns told MSNBC on Friday that black and Hispanic voters reject her suggestive statements that former President Donald Trump is racist.
Trump held a rally on Thursday in the Bronx, which is a largely Democratic and Hispanic area, with thousands of Americans reportedly attending. Burns said on “Ana Cabrera Reports” that black and Hispanic voters typically are unmoved when she brings up examples of Trump’s alleged racism because they feel “life was better” under his administration than President Joe Biden’s. (RELATED: Bronx Voters Tell Fox News Host Trump’s Rally Will ‘Bring Light To The Hood’)
“I talk to these voters about the Central Park five,” Burns said. “I talk to them about some of the comments that he’s made, and the policies beyond rhetoric, right? They are just so focused on what their lives are like right now, what they can feel tangibly that when I push back with those comments, they shut that down.”
WATCH:
Radio host Charlamagne Tha God pointed to three “tangible things” that black Americans may appreciate from Trump’s administration in a recent interview with The New York Times. He said two of Trump’s policies to boost the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and one policy on criminal justice reform may be part of his appeal with black voters.
“They said, ‘listen, he might say some things.’ Again, they focused on the rhetoric still because they feel like that’s what the media sort of consistently puts out there,” Burns added. “They say ‘he might say some stuff that’s offensive, but at the end of the day, I feel like my life was better under former President Trump than under President Biden.’”
“This is what I hear from voters consistently, and we see this reflected in the data as we’re seeing these numbers of black and Hispanic voters sort of getting chipped away from the Democratic Party and moving towards Trump … I see this consistently as I talk to these demographics,” she said.
Trump has decreased the deficit with Biden among black and Hispanic Americans across the six swing states, a recent New York Times/Siena College poll found. Biden is leading Trump 70% to 18% among black voters and 47% to 42% among Hispanic voters, according to the poll.
CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten said on Friday that Trump’s Bronx rally is a negative indicator for Biden’s reelection chances as it is representative of the shift of Latino voters.
“This is a sign of the Hispanic movement that we saw last cycle, right, where we saw, although Hispanics still favored the Democratic candidate in Joe Biden, they were less likely to favor him than they did Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama both times,” Enten said. “And it’s not just there that happened. We saw it in Hispanic precincts and counties across the country from southeast Florida, southern Texas, even in the Los Angeles area.”
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(JNS) The only thing surprising about the decision by International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday was that it included Hamas, alongside Israel, as deserving of target. Otherwise, it shouldn’t have come as a shock to anyone who’s been paying attention.
Given the ongoing harassment of the Jewish state by the similarly named International Court of Justice, also situated in The Hague, it was just a matter of time before the ICC would spring into abhorrent action.
Coupled with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken’s recent remark about the reasonableness of assessing that “in certain instances, Israel acted in ways that are not consistent with international humanitarian law,” Khan’s move was facilitated. His election to the post in February 2021 was backed by the United States, after all.
To grasp the depth of his perversion of justice, no more than a glance at his announcement is needed.
“On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my office,” he wrote, “I have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the minister of defense of Israel, bear criminal responsibility for … war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 8 Oct. 2023.”
The “crimes” he listed were: “Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare; willfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health … or cruel treatment; willful killing … or murder; intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population; extermination and/or murder … including in the context of deaths caused by starvation; persecution; and other inhumane acts.”
As if that weren’t a vile enough distortion, Khan argued that “the crimes against humanity charged were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian population pursuant to state policy.” For effect, he added, “These crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day.”
Because he opened with comparable finger-pointing at Hamas terror-masters Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh, anger erupted in Israel and abroad, at least among anyone possessing half a brain and a pair of eyes.
Calling Khan’s decision “a moral outrage of historic proportions,” Netanyahu bellowed, “Israel is waging a just war against Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that perpetrated the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, while Hamas massacred 1,200 Jews, raped Jewish women, burned Jewish babies and took hundreds hostage.”
He called out Khan for creating a “twisted and false moral equivalence between the leaders of Israel and the henchmen of Hamas.” This, he said, “is like creating a moral equivalence after Sept. 11 between President Bush and Osama bin Laden, or during World War II between FDR and Hitler.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry referred to Khan’s “equating of the attackers and the attacked” as “absurdity incarnate,” “folly of the highest order” and “morally twisted.”
U.S. President Joe Biden responded: “Let me be clear: Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence—none—between Israel and Hamas.”
Even Blinken, whose own comments earlier this month were “absurdity incarnate,” chimed in. “We reject the prosecutor’s equivalence of Israel with Hamas,” he stated. “It is shameful. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans.”
Many pro-Israel, or merely “normie,” pundits have been expressing parallel sentiments, stressing the distinction between Israel and Hamas in order to highlight the ills of Khan’s seeking to issue arrest warrants for the leaders of both. Though emphasizing the above is unavoidable—with the ICC and ICJ cloaking their anti-Israel political activism in legalese—it misses the plot and the bigger picture.
In the first place, it’s a defensive posture. Secondly, the problem with lumping Israel and Hamas together isn’t that the former is better than the latter; it’s that Israel is an ethically laudable country on its own, and never goes to battle unless forced to do so by enemies whose sworn aim is to wipe it off the map.
Furthermore, no military has ever adhered to such strict, self-imposed “purity of arms” edicts. They’re more stringent, in fact, than those governing the Geneva Convention’s laws of war. It’s therefore no accident that civilian casualties in the war in Gaza are, in the words of John Spencer, chairman of urban warfare studies at West Point, “abnormally low.”
Not only that. In its serious efforts to warn noncombatants to get out of harm’s way, the Israel Defense Forces forfeits the element of surprise where targeted attacks are concerned. Airdropping fliers, sending text messages and making phone calls to Gazans will do that.
Naturally, Hamas takes full advantage of being handed the coordinates. And its knowledge of Israeli plans puts IDF troops at severe risk.
Khan’s obfuscation of this reality through an appalling two-fer is purposeful. The Jewish state needs to go on the offensive and shame him for the antisemite that he is. It might also remind him that the most fitting place for a kangaroo court prosecutor is the zoo.
(AP) — After two rounds of the NHL playoffs, there were hopes the New York Rangers had a chance to end their 30-year Stanley Cup drought.
The defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers needed only one game into the third round to give New York a reality check.
The Panthers pretty much had their way in Game 1 on Wednesday night, beating the Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden. They clogged up the middle of the ice, pounded their opponent and limited the Rangers to 24 shots.
Most of those didn’t give goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky much trouble.
The Rangers’ biggest problem was failing to handle Florida’s forecheck, making bad breakout passes out of their zone. They didn’t get their own forecheck established until the third period, and they didn’t convert chances when they had them.
“Can we win (Friday) night?” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday. “I definitely believe we can win (Friday) night. So, that that goes back to us taking care of things today and having some meetings and talking (about) small adjustments and getting getting our game a little bit back in order to what we’re comfortable with and what we’re happy with.”
Another response the Rangers can make is to change the lineup. That could mean putting tough guy Matt Rempe in for Game 2. He loves to mix it up, and the crowd would love it.
Stars drop 7th straight Game 1, falling 3-2 to Oilers in 2nd overtime in West final
The Rangers need something.
Florida was so good, there was a 14-minute span in the second period during which the Rangers didn’t get a shot on goal.
“On the bench, it didn’t feel like we had the game shut down in any way,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Thursday.
His big concern is Friday. He noted that after the Panthers’ opening-round win over the Lightning, Tampa Bay came back and played its best game in Game 2. When Florida lost to Boston in the opening game in the second round, the coach said his team had its best showing of the postseason in Game 2.
Maurice expects the Rangers to respond, too.
Rookie forward Will Cuylle said that’s been a team trademark under Laviolette.
“I think throughout the season we’ve showed when a game doesn’t go our way, we’re ready to go the next game,” said Cuylle, who was stopped on a second-period breakaway.
Friday will tell.
While Rempe seems a likely move for Game 2, the Rangers have other options.
They have used Jack Roslovic on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. One move might be to bring back veteran Blake Wheeler, who has been practicing with the team. He has not played since breaking a bone in his right leg Feb. 15.
Laviolette mixed up his lines late in the game and even used Artemi Panarin with the top group for a few shifts.
FOURTH-LINE DECISIONS
The Rangers aren’t the only team that has made changes.
Maurice said he has struggled with his combinations on the fourth line. Eetu Luostarinen and Ryan Lomberg played in the opener. The coach also has used Steven Lorentz and Kyle Okposo there.
Maurice said he makes sure to address the players as a group about his decisions.
PENALTIES KILLED
There were five penalties called in Game 1, and the penalty killers were outstanding. The Rangers killed off all three Panthers power plays, and the Florida did the same on two for New York.
The Rangers are ranked second in the postseason, killing off at 90.2%. Florida is third at 86.8%. Edmonton leads the way at 91.4%.
Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s Exclusionary Conduct and Dominance Across the Live Concert Ecosystem Harms Fans, Innovation, Artists, and Venues
The Justice Department, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation-Ticketmaster) for monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit, which includes a request for structural relief, seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists.
The complaint, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster unlawfully exercises its monopoly power in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. As a result of its conduct, music fans in the United States are deprived of ticketing innovation and forced to use outdated technology while paying more for tickets than fans in other countries. At the same time, Live Nation-Ticketmaster exercises its power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition. Live Nation-Ticketmaster also imposes barriers to competition that limit the entry and expansion of its rivals.
“We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”
“Today’s announcement reflects the latest efforts by the Justice Department to combat corporate misconduct,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Our fight against corporate wrongdoing includes an intense focus on anticompetitive conduct — which disadvantages consumers, workers, and businesses of all kinds. Today’s complaint alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster have engaged in anticompetitive conduct to cement their dominance of the live concert market and act as the gatekeeper for an entire industry. Today’s action is a step forward in making this era of live music more accessible for the fans, the artists, and the industry that supports them.”
“The Department is committed to competition throughout the economy, including in live music,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “As our complaint alleges, Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopolizes the markets for concerts and other live events at the expense of fans, venues, and artists across the country. The Department is proud to bring this case to restore competition to this industry.”
“The live music industry in America is broken because Live Nation-Ticketmaster has an illegal monopoly,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Our antitrust lawsuit seeks to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s monopoly and restore competition for the benefit of fans and artists.”
According to the complaint, Live Nation-Ticketmaster has unlawfully maintained monopolies in several concert promotions and primary ticketing markets and engaged in other exclusionary conduct affecting live concert venues, including arenas and amphitheaters. The complaint further alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s exclusionary practices fortify and protect what it refers to as its “flywheel.” The flywheel is Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s self-reinforcing business model that captures fees and revenue from concert fans and sponsorship, uses that revenue to lock up artists to exclusive promotion deals, and then uses its powerful cache of live content to sign venues into long term exclusive ticketing deals, thereby starting the cycle all over again. Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s anticompetitive conduct creates even more barriers for rivals to compete on the merits. Specifically, Live Nation-Ticketmaster engaged in a variety of tactics to eliminate competition and monopolize markets:
Relationship with Oak View Group: Live Nation-Ticketmaster exploits its longtime relationship with Oak View Group, a potential competitor-turned-partner that has described itself as a “hammer” and “protect[or]” for Live Nation. In recent years, Oak View Group has avoided bidding against Live Nation for artist talent and influenced venues to sign exclusive agreements with Ticketmaster. For example, Live Nation has scolded Oak View Group multiple times for trying to compete. In one instance, Live Nation asked, “who would be so stupid to . . . play into [an artist agent’s] arms,” and on another occasion, Live Nation stated, “let’s make sure we don’t let [the artist agency] now start playing us off.”
Retaliating Against Potential Entrants: Live Nation-Ticketmaster successfully threatened financial retaliation against a firm unless it stopped one of its subsidiaries from competing to gain a foothold in the U.S. concert promotions market.
Threatening and Retaliating Against Venues that Work with Rivals: Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s power in concert promotions means that every live concert venue knows choosing another promoter or ticketer comes with a risk of drawing an adverse reaction from Live Nation-Ticketmaster that would result in losing concerts, revenue, and fans.
Locking Out Competition with Exclusionary Contracts: Live Nation-Ticketmaster locks concert venues into long-term exclusive contracts so that venues cannot consider or choose rival ticketers or switch to better or more cost-effective ticketing technology. These contracts allow Live Nation-Ticketmaster to reduce competitive pressure to improve its own ticketing technology and customer service.
Blocking Venues from Using Multiple Ticketers: Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s conduct and exclusive contracts prevent new and different promotions and ticketing competitors and business models from emerging. They block venues from being able to use multiple ticketers, who would compete by offering the best mix of prices, fees, quality, and innovation to fans.
Restricting Artists’ Access to Venues: Live Nation-Ticketmaster has increasingly gained control of key venues, including amphitheaters, through acquisitions, partnerships, and agreements. Live Nation-Ticketmaster restricts artists’ use of those venues unless those artists also agree to use their promotion services.
Acquiring Competitors and Competitive Threats: Live Nation-Ticketmaster strategically acquired a number of smaller and regional promoters that it had internally identified as threats. This has undermined competition and impacted artist compensation.
Live Nation Entertainment Inc. is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. It describes itself as the “largest live entertainment company in the world,” the “largest producer of live music concerts in the world,” and “the world’s leading live entertainment ticketing sales and marketing company.” Live Nation also owns or controls more than 265 concert venues in North America, including more than 60 of the top 100 amphitheaters in the United States. It generates over $22 billion globally in annual revenue from three business segments: concerts (e.g., promotions, venue management, and music festival production), ticketing (e.g., Ticketmaster business), and sponsorship and advertising.
Ticketmaster LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Live Nation. It is a Virginia limited liability company with headquarters in Beverly Hills. Ticketmaster sells concert tickets to fans when those tickets first go on sale and operates resale platforms that enable purchasers to resell those tickets at a later time. Ticketmaster is by far the largest concert ticketing company in the United States, multiple times the size of its closest competitor.
A hotel developer and fundraiser for New York City mayor Eric Adams (D.) bought her way into the mayor’s inner circle and scored lucrative favors from the Adams administration, according to a Guardian report on Thursday.
Weihong Hu received contract favors that boosted her businesses and earned her millions of dollars after she allegedly made illegal donations to Adams’s reelection campaign in 2021 and provided benefits to several longtime associates of the Democratic mayor, the Guardianreported.
Government records show the Adams administration awarded Hu an additional $6.2 million annually by renewing her shelter contract in Queens four times, while a second contract approved by the administration granted $6.3 million per year to another of Hu’s hotels in New York City.
The administration also allegedly helped drop the safety citations against Hu’s construction projects on two separate occasions, and in late 2022 freed Hu of a stop-work order on one of her hotels, the outlet noted.
Hu had allowed Winnie Greco, one of Adams’s top aides, to stay at one of her hotels for about eight months in a taxpayer-funded suite intended for housing formerly incarcerated New Yorkers. Greco’s stay likely cost the city at least $50,000, according to the outlet’s review of the hotel invoices.
The mayor’s son, Jordan Coleman, also visited the hotel with a young woman at least once and used one of the taxpayer-funded rooms, although it is not clear whether Coleman or the woman stayed the night.
In addition, Hu worked with and reportedly paid John Sampson, a friend of the mayor who had been sentenced to prison in 2017 for obstructing a federal investigation into his alleged embezzlement of more than $400,000, as well as Alfred Cockfield II, an Adams ally accused of secretly pocketing funds from a political action committee he was running.
Adams and Hu first met in May 2021 at the mayor’s fundraising event in Brooklyn, according to two people who were at the meeting. Hu repeatedly called Adams “a good man” during the half-hour meeting.
Hu’s attorney, Kevin Tung, told the Guardian in a phone call that “all of these [claims against Hu] are allegations,” adding that “most of them, I don’t think they’re true.”
A Chinese government source said Hu in 2007 “confessed” to paying “millions in bribes” to a Chinese Communist Party official and was detained before she could board a plane to the United States, according to the Guardian.
The revelations about Hu’s close ties with the Adams administration come as Adams faces an FBI investigation into whether his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to rake in foreign money.