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COVID map shows four states with highest positive case rates

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COVID map shows four states with highest positive case rates

Four Midwestern states had the highest rates of COVID-19 test positivity in the week through September 23, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Some 11.6 percent of COVID-19 tests in the U.S. were positive that week, down a little from a week earlier. The CDC’s map showed four states had higher test positivity than anywhere else in the county—Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa had 15 percent of tests come back positive.

States that had topped the list in terms of test positivity over the summer—Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas—now have test positivity at just over 10 percent. Those at the other end of the spectrum had at least 7 percent test positivity. They include Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

While the severity of the COVID pandemic has faded, there are still hundreds of deaths and thousands of hospitalizations across the country each week.

While hospital admissions have started to drop after a spike over the summer, a dozen states have seen a “substantial” increase in admissions, according to the latest data, with Connecticut topping the list.

The CDC in September endorsed updated COVID shots for everyone six months and older, with experts concerned that immunity from previous vaccinations and infections is fading in many people.

“While rates now seem to be plateauing, we are entering October, which is the typical start of the respiratory virus season,” a CDC spokesperson told Newsweek last week.

“Even if hospitalization rates level off for a few weeks, they could increase in the coming weeks, and prevention is the best approach.”

The CDC says those who recently had COVID may consider delaying getting the new shot by three months as reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after being sick. However, the CDC advises taking into account certain factors to get the shot sooner rather than later, including personal risk of severe illness, risk of illness in a loved one or close contact and local COVID hospital admission level.

About 2 million Americans have reportedly gotten the new shot in the two weeks since its approval amid a messy rollout that included barriers from insurance companies.

After reports found that some patients were being charged as much as $190 for a COVID shot at pharmacies, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a public statement directed at “the health care payer community.”

“We should be completely aligned in our goals of getting everyone the updated COVID-19 vaccine,” he wrote. “With claims rejections in the thousands each day, we are missing opportunities to save lives together.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said that vaccines will remain free for most U.S. residents through the Vaccines for Children Program, Children’s Health Insurance Program, most commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid programs. For those who are uninsured or underinsured, the CDC’s Bridge Access Program will provide free coverage.

A spokesperson for HHS told Newsweek that while there had been reports of “unexpected coverage denials at the point of service,” these were being addressed by the government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Social Security’s $20 billion error raises questions in Congress

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Social Security’s $20 billion error raises questions in Congress

Members of Congress are demanding answers after it was revealed the Social Security Administration is trying to claw back $20 billion in overpayments.

The SSA regained $4.7 billion of overpayments during the 2022 fiscal year, but ended the year with $21.6 billion still outstanding, according to a report by agency’s inspector general.

Social Security benefits are paid to people who have retired, people who are disabled and the survivors of workers who have died. For many, the payments make up the bulk of their income and some recipients have told Newsweek of their fears after being sent letters from the SSA asking for tens of thousands of dollars to be paid back with little notice. One man said he became homeless after the agency sent him a demand for $67,000.

Now, several lawmakers are calling for congressional hearings on the overpayments and for the SSA to stop seeking them back.

Rep. Mike Carey, an Ohio Republican on the House Subcommittee on Social Security, has called for a hearing.

“Seniors and disabled Americans on a fixed income shouldn’t be penalized for bureaucratic mistakes on the part of the Social Security Administration,” Carey said in a statement to Newsweek.

“The Social Security Administration has known about this problem for years, we need answers to why it hasn’t been solved yet.”

Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican on the Committee on Aging, questioned how the agency allowed overpayments to balloon to more than $20 billion.

“Is somebody going to be held accountable at the federal level for, you know, messing this up?” Scott said to Cox Media Group.

Newsweek has contacted the Social Security Administration for further comment via email.

In September, New York Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro contacted the acting commissioner of the SSA, calling on the agency to immediately stop trying to claw back overpayments and update its system to prevent future issues.

“The Social Security Administration screwed up, and now they’re demanding that seniors pay for the administration’s mistakes,” Molinaro said in a statement.

“Social Security serves as the primary source of income for thousands of recipients in Upstate New York. Most victims will have no way of ever paying Social Security back. The Social Security Administration needs to stop aggressive prosecutions of seniors and focus on fixing their systems.”

Meanwhile, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, have introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

The Savings Penalty Elimination Act aims to raise asset caps to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples, and index them to inflation moving forward. The current caps, which have not been changed since 1984, are $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples.

“The government shouldn’t punish seniors and Ohioans with disabilities who do the right thing and save money,” Brown said. “It’s long past time we end these out-of-date government restrictions and allow Americans on SSI to save for emergencies and for their futures without putting the benefits they rely on to live at risk.”

A spokesperson fort he SSA previously told Newsweek that “less than 0.5 percent of Social Security payments are overpayments.”

They said the agency “is required by law to adjust benefits or recover debts when we establish that someone received payments to which they are not entitled and an overpayment occurs. We must maintain our responsibilities to taxpayers to be good stewards of the trust funds.

“Each person’s situation is unique, and we handle overpayments on a case-by-case basis. Overpayments can occur for many reasons, such as when a beneficiary does not timely report work or other changes that can affect their benefits,” the spokesperson continued.

They added: “We continually strive to improve stewardship of our programs and reduce improper payments. While staffing losses and resource constraints have challenged our service delivery, our payment accuracy rates remain very high.”

Update 10/3/23, 10:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Rep. Carey.

Amy Coney Barrett’s Christian group probed by FBI: What we know

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Amy Coney Barrett’s Christian group probed by FBI: What we know

The FBI has reportedly interviewed a number of individuals who alleged they were abused by members of a Christian group that counts Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett as a member.

Barrett’s affiliation with People of Praise, a conservative religious group that elevates the role of men, drew scrutiny ahead of her appointment to the highest court in the nation.

One former member told Newsweek in 2020 that women are expected to be “absolutely obedient” to their husbands and the men in the group and those who aren’t are “shamed, shunned, humiliated.”

At least five individuals have been contacted by the FBI, a spokesperson for a group called PoP Survivors confirmed to Newsweek on Tuesday. The development was first reported by The Guardian.

An FBI spokesperson declined to confirm whether or not it was investigating. “As a matter of longstanding policy, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of investigations,” they told Newsweek.

Newsweek reached out to the People of Praise for comment via email. Barrett has been contacted through a Supreme Court spokesperson for comment.

PoP Survivors has engaged in a years-long effort calling for the group, based in South Bend, Indiana, to be investigated for its handling of sexual abuse allegations.

“After years of inaction by the People of Praise, our PoP Survivors group recently voted unanimously to approach federal law enforcement,” the spokesperson for PoP Survivors said in a statement.

“We showed the FBI a pattern of sexual abuse and cover-up in the People of Praise spanning decades. This involves pressuring victims not to go to law enforcement, moving perpetrators around, and claiming perpetrators had been ‘healed’ rather than reporting them to law enforcement.”

The spokesperson said they expect the FBI to contact more individuals.

The FBI spokesperson added that the bureau “investigates individuals who commit or intend to commit violence and other criminal activity that constitutes a federal crime or poses a threat to national security.

“Our focus is not on membership in particular groups but on criminal activity. We are committed to upholding the constitutional rights of all Americans and will never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment-protected activity. Membership in groups is not illegal in and of itself and is protected by the First Amendment.”

What former People of Praise members told Newsweek

Coral Anika Theill, who was formerly a member of a branch of People of Praise in Corvallis, Oregon, has described the group as a “charismatic dictatorship” and a “cult.”

“There was a lot of abuse and shaming, shunning, intimidation, bullying going on,” she said. “You did not say no, or there was retaliation.”

Theill says the five years she spent in the community between 1979 and 1984 traumatized her.

“There’s just a lot of rules,” she said. “As a wife, I couldn’t even see my doctor alone. I couldn’t see my family unless they gave me permission. I couldn’t talk to neighbors, I couldn’t see or talk to friends.”

Sean Connelly, communications director for People of Praise, told Newsweek in 2020 that “neither the men nor women leaders in the People of Praise Corvallis branch are aware that there were ever any allegations of physical or mental abuse concerning Ms. Theill and her husband at the time.

“Her charges of the mistreatment of women, insularity, lack of privacy and shunning are contradictory to our beliefs and our practices as a community.”

Tim Kaiser, who grew up in the People of Praise, left when he turned 18 in 1997 after growing disillusioned with the level of authority the group exerts on members and its insular nature.

He told Newsweek that women submitting to their husbands “is not negotiable or figurative.”

“In the case of a woman, her ‘head’ is her husband—that’s who is in charge of her. That is the person who is supposed to be making all of her moral decisions and taking responsibility for the condition of her soul. It’s really creepy, but that’s the idea.”

Update 10/04/23, 10:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from the FBI.

Update 10/03/23, 10:23 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from a PoP Survivors spokesperson.

Update 10/03/23, 8:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional background information.

Student loan repayment chaos as borrowers face delays

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Student loan repayment chaos as borrowers face delays

Millions of Americans must start repaying their federal student loans again from October, but some have reported delays as they try to figure out what they need to pay each month.

A three-year pause on repayments due to the COVID-19 pandemic ended this month, and interest started accruing again in September.

The Supreme Court in June rejected President Joe Biden’s plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loan debt. His administration announced the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, a new income-driven repayment plan with some of the most lenient terms ever.

But some borrowers have described the logistical challenges they faced as they prepared for a return to repayments, saying they struggled to find out how much they would owe in the weeks before their bills were due.

Kate Nordstrom, 31, a consultant for a software company, applied for the SAVE plan in July. She told MarketWatch that the government’s website said she would owe about $191 each month, but her loan servicer informed her at one point that she would have to pay about $750. She was forced to file complaints with the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and her state and her application is now being reviewed.

“I’m at the whim of whatever unfortunate individual has to process my stuff,” she said.

Many loan servicers changed during the pandemic, so a number of borrowers are dealing with a different one than they had back in March 2020.

Some took to social media to report the difficulties they were experiencing when trying to get information from their loan servicer.

“I always had great experiences with nelnet before the student loan pause,” Denise Huxtable wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Present day? they must not have any customer service operators because the hold times are crazy. and no option to be placed in a queue to be called back.”

Lindsey Galbo-Thomma wrote: “I’ve been on hold with @Nelnet for 2.5 hrs because they apparently don’t have a call back service despite the fact it’s almost 2024?”

Last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and three Democratic colleagues wrote to four federal loan servicers—MOHELA, Nelnet, EdFinancial, and Maximus Federal Services Inc.—asking for information about their readiness after reports that many borrowers were reporting long hold times, they were not being provided with accurate information and loan servicers’ websites were crashing.

“This is deeply troubling: borrowers who cannot get ahold of their student loan servicer ahead of repayment may not know their payment amount, and they cannot learn the various payment plans to determine the best one for their specific circumstances or determine their eligibility for various forms of loan relief,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter.

On its website, MOHELA says that “due to the unprecedented event of millions of student loan borrowers returning to repayment at the same time, you may experience longer than normal wait times to speak to a Customer Service Representative.”

The message adds that “self-service is available 24/7 by logging in to mohela.com or StudentAid.gov. There you can explore your repayment plan options which may help to lower your monthly payment amount. We appreciate your patience.”

Borrowers who don’t make repayments after the pause ends will be protected from the worst of the repercussions.

Biden has announced a 12-month grace period to help those who struggle after payments restart. Those who don’t make payments during the first 12 months after payments resume won’t be at risk of default and it won’t hurt their credit score. However, interest will accrue whether they make payments or not.

Newsweek has contacted MOHELA, Nelnet, EdFinancial and Maximus Federal Services Inc. for comment via email.

Have you had difficulties with your student loan repayments? Email k.rahman@newsweek.com

Republicans start to panic about Trump’s chances against RFK Jr.

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Republicans start to panic about Trump’s chances against RFK Jr.

Democrats have long worried that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would leave the Democratic primaries and run independently—but it’s not only President Joe Biden that Kennedy could pull support from.

As an independent run becomes increasingly likely, Republicans are now expressing concerns that Kennedy could jeopardize the 2024 election for the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.

Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk suggested on his show last week that the reports about panic from Democrats over an independent Kennedy run are a “strategy” to conceal the threat that Kennedy would pose to the Republican Party.

“Far more of the ‘I don’t trust the government’ brigade would vote for RFK Jr. if he were run as a Libertarian,” Kirk said, adding that “Libertarians being on the ballot almost always hurt Republicans.”

Kennedy, a candidate running for the Democratic nomination thus far, is expected to drop his challenge to Biden on October 9 and launch an independent bid instead. Despite being the closest Democratic threat to Biden and garnering double-digit support, Kennedy trails Biden by 50 points, multiple polls show.

Democrats have feared that should Kennedy run as an independent, the shakeup could deal a blow to the president in a Biden-Trump rematch, where Kennedy could take more centrist votes from Biden and further weaken a Biden advantage over Trump.

But a super political action committee (PAC) supporting Kennedy countered projections that anticipate an independent run would be a victory for Trump’s campaign, saying in a Monday press release that, “The opposite is true. Kennedy is taking more votes from Trump than from Biden.”

A poll conducted by the American Values 2024 PAC found that in a general election between Trump, Biden and a generic “independent candidate,” Trump would come out on top with 40 percent, Biden lagging behind at 38 percent and the independent candidate down at 17 percent. But, if the race were to be Trump, Biden and Kennedy, Kennedy would see 19 percent support and leave Trump and Biden tied at 38 percent.

“RFK cant win but he can deny Trump the White House and hand it to Dems,” far-right activist Jack Posobiec wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum also argued to her colleagues that Kennedy “has a lot of support among [Joe] Rogan listeners, Jordan Peterson listeners, and what he’s talking about in this video is that there has to be a different path.”

“He has a lot of people, young people, very interested in what he’s saying,” she said.

In a Monday tweet, Kirk posted an interview of Kennedy in which the presidential candidate says, “I take more votes from President Trump than I do from President Biden.”

“I know people will disagree on whether or how much RFK running 3rd party hurts Trump,” political commentator Rogan O’Handley, also known as DC Draino, wrote on X. “I think we can all agree one 1 thing though – it’s time to stop highlighting RFK’s positives (I am guilty of that and take accountability) and start amplifying his negatives.”

“His favorables are way too high, especially among conservatives,” O’Handley said. “People need to be reminded that he’s a pro-choice, pro-climate change, anti-gun Leftist.”

But others disagreed, saying that the idea that Kennedy running as an independent would be good for Biden and bad for Trump is false.

“Bannon & Co are spreading fake ‘studies’ showing that an RFK Jr third-party run wd help Biden & hurt Trump. If you buy that, I have a bridge to sell you, cheap,” attorney Laurence Tribe said on X.

“RFK Jr is a huge threat in 2024,” Tribe wrote in another post. “He’s backed by a massive and growing war chest and Cambridge Analytica on steroids. And he’s taking dead aim at the Biden/Harris ticket as a 3rd party spoiler. He could assure a Trump victory and the end of the republic.”

Five warning signs Donald Trump is heading for disaster

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Five warning signs Donald Trump is heading for disaster

Donald Trump’s chances of re-entering the White House may be hindered by a number of current and upcoming events.

While the former president is still the overwhelming favorite to clinch the Republican nomination, despite facing 91 criminal charges across four investigations, the question remains as to whether he can go on to win the 2024 presidential election.

As well as major updates in the criminal cases Trump is involved in, there have been other developments in the $250 million fraud lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a case that could damage Trump financially and hurt his reputation as a savvy businessman.

There has also been some positive news regarding Trump’s likely 2024 Democratic rival, President Joe Biden, and for a long-shot presidential candidate who may have an oversized say in who is elected the next president.

1) New York Civil Trial to Be Decided by Judge

On Monday, Judge Arthur Engoron told the New York court on the first day of Trump’s civil fraud trial that the reason the case is not being decided by a jury is because nobody asked for a jury trial. It will be decided by the judge in a bench trial.

The remarks prompted speculation that Trump’s lawyers failed to merely tick a box in court documents to request a jury trial, a claim which has been rejected by the former president’s legal team.

The lack of a jury puts Trump in a perilous position with regards to the outcome of the civil trial. It could see the former president’s companies and assets—including Trump Tower, where he announced his intention to run for president after coming down a golden escalator in June 2015—being removed from his control or even dissolved, and he could face a large financial penalty.

The remaining outcomes and any penalties will be decided solely by Engoron, a judge who ruled on September 26 that Trump committed fraud while inflating the value of several of his properties and assets for years when filing financial statements, the main crux of James’ $250 million lawsuit.

2) Georgia 2020 Election Case Updates

On October 23, the first trial involving defendants indicted alongside Trump in Fani Willis‘ sprawling election case will begin.

Former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell and lawyer Kenneth Chesebro are set to face a jury after a judge allowed them to sever their cases from the other 17 defendants charged under the RICO probe, which also includes Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows.

If Chesebro and Powell are found guilty, it will put further pressure on Trump, who is accused of overseeing the alleged criminal attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

Last month, prosecutors in Willis’ office also indicated that they are willing to offer a plea deal to either Powell, Chesebro, or both ahead of their trial.

Elsewhere, another Georgia defendant, Scott Hall, pleaded guilty to charges relating to a voting system breach in Georgia’s Coffee County in 2021, becoming the first of Trump’s co-defendants to have their cases resolved.

Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanour counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties, down from the seven felony charges he faced in the indictment.

As part of the plea deal, Hall must testify if prosecutors call him as a witnesses in any other of the Georgia election cases.

3) Mar-a-Lago ‘Garcia Hearing’

Also in October, the judge in the classified documents case will oversee a hearing on whether there is a conflict of interest involving two attorneys representing Trump’s co-defendants.

The Department of Justice had previously called on Judge Aileen Cannon to hold a so-called Garcia hearing because the attorneys representing Trump aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira also represent people who could be called as witnesses in the federal case.

The potential conflict of interest means that John Irving, who represents De Oliveira, and Stanley Woodward, who is representing Nauta, could represent a defendant in the classified documents trial, and then cross-examine another of their clients providing evidence during a trial.

Cannon has scheduled hearings on the matters on October 12, and Nauta and De Oliveria could request new attorneys.

The DoJ previously called for a Garcia hearing due to a potential conflict as Woodward was representing Yuscil Taveras, a Mar-a-Lago IT worker.

Taveras later flipped against Trump and the other two defendants in the classified documents case after requesting a new lawyer. Taveras changed his original testimony because he was facing a potential perjury charge after investigators were aware he made false claims about not being aware of any attempts by Trump, Nauta, or De Oliveira to delete security footage that had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors.

4) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Switches to Independent

A major, but perhaps far-fetched, challenger to Biden’s bid for the Democratic candidacy is said to soon announce that he will instead run for president as an independent candidate.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has often seen double-digit support in 2024 Democratic primary polls, is planning to announce he will run as an independent on October 9 in Pennsylvania, according to Mediaite.

While third party candidates are often blamed for pulling votes away from Democratic challengers—as seen with Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in the 2000 election in which Al Gore narrowly lost to George W. Bush—there are indications that Kennedy may actually pull votes from Trump.

Kennedy, who has pushed misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines, appears to be better liked by Republican voters than Democrats.

According to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, Republicans have a net 30-point favorable view of Kennedy (48 percent favorable to 18 percent unfavorable.) In comparison, just 14 percent of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Kennedy, compared with 57 percent who have an unfavorable one.

5) Joe Biden’s Polling Boost

The president has long struggled with his approval ratings, which have raised questions about whether he should run for office again in 2024, but Biden has seen some positive news in a recent survey.

According to an adjusted Rasmussen poll, 49 percent of Americans approve of his job as president, while 48 percent disapprove—Biden’s first net positive poll result for five months.

However, according to FiveThirtyEight’s average poll tracker, Biden is still struggling overall with his approval rating.

As of October 3, Biden’s national average approval rating is 39.8 percent, and he has not been above 50 percent since August 2021.

Kevin McCarthy denies deal with Democrats to stay in power

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Kevin McCarthy denies deal with Democrats to stay in power

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy does not plan to offer a deal to Democrats to save his speakership amid a challenge from conservative hardliners, he said on Tuesday.

Florida Representative Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate McCarthy’s speakership on Monday following months of frustration between the speaker and the GOP conference’s most right-wing flank. McCarthy sparked Gaetz’s outrage after reaching a deal with Democrats to pass a short-term spending bill that averted a government shutdown on Saturday as House Republicans failed to reach a deal to fund it through the next fiscal year.

McCarthy, the Republican representative from California, faces potentially complex math in this battle to stay in power. Currently, the House is comprised of 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats (with two vacancies), meaning McCarthy can only afford four conservative defections. Already, at least five Republicans have signaled they would be open to removing McCarthy as speaker, prompting questions about whether he would turn to make a deal with some moderate Democrats to help him remain in power.

During an interview on CNBC Tuesday morning, however, McCarthy said he does not currently have any plans to reach a deal with Democrats.

“You know, they haven’t asked for anything, and I’m not going to provide anything,” he said.

“Let’s just be clear, when [former Speaker] Nancy Pelosi was the minority leader, she would always come in, and she told [former Speaker John] Boehner and [former Speaker Paul Ryan] that she didn’t believe in them utilizing this, how they removed Boehner, how she would always vote it down. Not based on saving an individual but based upon what’s good for government. What’s good for the institution as a whole.”

Newsweek reached out to McCarthy’s office via email for comment.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, during an appearance on MSNBC‘s Morning Joe,said that Democrats will discuss how they will vote on the motion to vacate during a caucus meeting Tuesday morning.

“We’ll have a family conversation about this issue, relatively a first impression that hasn’t been before the Congress in 110 years or so. And then figure out where to go from there,” he said.

Jeffries said that Democrats should vote against McCarthy, Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman reported later in the day.

Democrats Would Push for “Big Concessions” From McCarthy: Expert

Laurel Harbridge-Yong, a professor with Northwestern University’s Department of Political Science, told Newsweek on Tuesday that McCarthy may be banking on House Freedom Caucus members putting the good of the party over their individual preferences.

“I think his hope is that Republicans, including House Freedom Caucus members, will realize the party as a whole is better off if they don’t have some big internal fight right now,” she said.

Typically, lawmakers are more willing to cross party lines on policy than leadership races, which are more about advancing the party’s brand. Still, Democrats representing districts former President Donald Trump won in 2020, or those more evenly split between the two political parties, are more likely to back McCarthy, Harbridge-Yong said.

She said Democrats would likely push for “big concessions” in exchange for their support, as it would be better for them electorally if Republicans appear dysfunctional.

McCarthy agreed to a rules change allowing a single member to bring up a motion to vacate the speakership to win the support of conservatives during the speaker’s race in January, which saw the House go through 15 rounds of votes over several days before McCarthy secured enough votes to win the leadership position.

Although only one member is needed to bring up the motion to vacate, a simple majority is still required to remove him from the position. McCarthy has expressed confidence that he will survive the challenge to his speakership.

Update 10/03/2023, 11:58 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.

Donald Trump attacks judge’s clerk while in court room with her

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Donald Trump attacks judge’s clerk while in court room with her

Former President Donald Trump attacked Judge Arthur Engoron’s clerk in a now-deleted social media post while in the courtroom with her on Tuesday.

Trump appeared in a New York courtroom for the second day of his trial of Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit alleging that he committed business fraud. James accused the former president of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to obtain benefits such as better bank loans and reduced tax bills between 2011 and 2021.

Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the case, ruled last week that Trump, his adult sons, their businesses and executives committed fraud, and will now decide on six other accusations, including falsifying business records, insurance fraud and conspiracy claims during the trial. Trump has maintained his innocence in the case, arguing that prosecutors are targeting him for political purposes. He has called for the case to be dismissed, arguing that the judge is biased against him.

On Tuesday, he extended his attacks to Engroron’s clerk Allison Greenfield in a now-deleted Truth Social post while in the courtroom with her. He posted a photograph taken of Greenfield with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, calling for the case to be dismissed over the picture.

“Schumer’s girlfriend, Alison R. Greenfield, is running this case against me. How disgraceful! This case should be dismissed immediately!!” he wrote. Despite his claim, there is no evidence of a relationship between Schumer and Greenfield beyond taking a photo together at one point.

Critics said the attack could lead to a gag order being placed on the former president in the civil suit.

“Trump is publicly attacking Engoron’s clerk on Truth Social. He desperately is asking for a gag order,” attorney Bradley P. Moss wrote in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Politico reporter Kyle Cheney wrote, “Trump, on Truth Social, is attacking Judge Engoron’s *clerk,—who is literally in the courtroom with him—while calling her ‘Chuck Schumer’s girlfriend’ and posting a link to her Instagram account. I suspect this will be an exhibit in some gag order arguments.”

“INSANE. Trump is now attacking Judge Engoron’s clerk. Gag order now!!!” wrote the organization Republicans Against Trump.

Trump’s comments about his various legal cases, which critics say are inflammatory in some cases, have sparked calls for judges to impose a gag order to limit his ability to speak about the cases. Special Counsel Jack Smith has requested a gag order in the federal case surrounding the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol building. Trump has claimed that a gag order would prevent him from campaigning as he again runs for president.

Newsweek reached out to Trump’s campaign for comment via email.

Trump’s business fraud trial is a civil trial, not criminal, meaning he may face damages, but not charges. It is separate from his four criminal cases, in which he also maintains his innocence. Legal experts have said the outcome of the trial could still significantly hamper his ability to conduct business in New York.

Engoron last week ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses in New York be rescinded and that the companies that own some of his properties be handed over to independent receivers. Legal experts have described the ruling as the corporate death penalty, while former Trump attorney Michael Cohen on Sunday said it could be a financial catastrophe for him.

Could Ivanka Trump face legal trouble over penthouse price?

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Could Ivanka Trump face legal trouble over penthouse price?

Ivanka Trump probably will not face a new lawsuit despite former President Donald Trump‘s ex-accountant testifying about discrepancies in the value of her Trump Tower apartment, legal experts told Newsweek.

The former president is facing a civil trial regarding New York Attorney General Letitia James’ allegations of business fraud. James filed a $250 million lawsuit alleging that Donald Trump inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to obtain benefits such as better bank loans and reduced tax bills between 2011 and 2021. Trump maintains his innocence, accusing James of targeting him for political purposes.

Donald Bender, a partner at Mazars USA and longtime accountant for Donald Trump’s businesses, testified that the valuation given for the Trump Park Avenue penthouse in Manhattan was different than a price offered to Ivanka Trump to buy it outright. James’ lawsuit alleged the Trump Organization valued the apartment at $20.8 million, compared with the $8.5 million option price offered to Trump’s daughter.

Ivanka Trump is not included in the civil lawsuit after a New York appeals court removed her from the list of defendants in June because the statute of limitations prevents James from suing certain defendants over transactions on time-dependent timelines, either before July 13, 2014, or February 6, 2016.

Bender’s testimony probably will not lead to a new lawsuit against the former president’s daughter, according to legal experts.

Although the public heard Bender’s testimony for the first time during the trial, the information would have been known to James and her team, Michael McAuliffe, a former federal prosecutor and former elected state attorney, told Newsweek. He said there is little likelihood that she will face a new case but remains “part of the fraud story the attorney general is telling to the judge.”

“The information was almost certainly available to the attorney general and her team before now, and may have been known to them when making decisions about who to file civil fraud charges against within the Trump organization, including Ivanka Trump,” McAuliffe said.

McAuliffe said Bender’s testimony could influence whether Ivanka Trump “tries to invoke her right against self-incrimination based on how the testimony comes in and she’s actually called as a witness.”

“There may be in theory federal exposure for her actions if they are within federal statute of limitations periods or she may have some other state law exposure,” he said.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani agreed that Ivanka Trump is unlikely to face new legal trouble, pointing out that the discrepancies were from 2011.

“The Court of Appeals ruled that most of the conduct before 2014 or 2016 [depending on the tolling agreement] was barred by the statute of limitations. The AG’s Office may argue that the financial statements were a ‘continuing wrong,’ but I don’t expect them to do so now that Ivanka’s claims have been dismissed,” he told Newsweek.

Bender’s testimony sparked speculation from some Trump critics that Ivanka Trump could face legal trouble.

“New York Attorney General Letitia James has long suspected that Ivanka Trump committed financial fraud — but she didn’t have the evidence to prove it in court. She now has first-hand testimony from the Trump Organization’s longtime accountant — meaning that she can now sue Ivanka Trump as well,” Omar Rivero, the founder of Occupy Democrats, wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Newsweek reached out to Trump’s campaign via email for comment.

Engoron last week sided with James that Trump, his adult sons and businesses committed business fraud. During this non-jury trial, the judge will decide on six other accusations, including falsifying business records, insurance fraud and conspiracy claims. The civil trial means Trump will not face criminal charges in the case.

Chris Christie blasts RNC over debate ban threat

Fox News
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Chris Christie blasts RNC over debate ban threat

Chris Christie released a statement blasting the Republican National Committee (RNC) for threatening to exclude him from the third presidential debate.

Christie, the former governor of New Jersey who is running in the GOP presidential primary, said on Tuesday the RNC has threatened to exclude him and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy from the debate, which is scheduled for November 8 in Miami, Florida, over a planned joint appearance on Fox News, which sparked the ire of the RNC.

The RNC has threatened to exclude the two from the debate, citing a rule prohibiting candidates from participating in unsanctioned debates. The scuffle follows the second primary debate, which saw candidates spar over issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the economy. The debate was widely defined by candidates constantly interrupting and speaking over each other, leaving many Republican viewers disappointed.

Christie criticized the threat to exclude him from the debate in a statement posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, writing that the RNC stopping “conversations between candidates from happening” is a “real cause for concern,” as the GOP needs “more debates and in-depth discussions.”

“Voters need more information not less. Our Party needs more debates and in-depth discussions not less. This is common sense and the bedrock of our Republic. When the RNC stops conversations between candidates from happening that is real cause for concern,” he wrote.

Christie continued: “It is very disappointing that we were threatened with exclusion from the Miami debate and future debates for trying to have a more complete dialogue with each other and the voters. Every campaign was offered that opportunity by Fox News and they have now been effectively banned by the RNC,” Christie wrote.

An RNC spokesperson responded to Christie in a statement first reported by CNN.

“The same candidates complaining about the rules governing RNC debates all signed a pledge and agreed months ago to not participate in unsanctioned debates. The RNC will continue to enact a fair, transparent debate process and we will not give in to pressure from individuals seeking to change the rules to favor their candidacy,” the statement said.

Newsweek also reached out to the RNC for comment via email.

Ramaswamy also criticized the move in his own X post, describing the last debate as a “disgrace” and that he is “starting to believe that was by design.”

“Instead of allowing open dialogue and the airing of ideas to give primary voters a real choice, the Establishment would rather cut backroom deals and offer up phony debates, including candidates with no viable path and questions that no voter would ever ask. The Establishment was hellbent on taking down Trump. Now they’re hellbent on propping up their favored puppets. We won’t let them get away with it,” he wrote.

Christie has made his criticisms of former President Donald Trump, who refused to participate in the first two debates and has called for the third to be canceled, a cornerstone of his presidential campaign. Once a Trump ally, he has turned on the ex-president following the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol building.

FiveThirtyEight’s aggregate of recent polls shows Trump leading with 55.4 percent of the vote, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is in second place with 13.7 percent of the vote as of October 2, 2023. Ramaswamy is averaging 6.4 percent of support, while Christie is receiving support from an average of 2.8 percent.

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