Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office
HONEYWELL AND BOMBARDIER SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO DELIVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY; HONEYWELL UPDATES 2024 OUTLOOKUnder bipartisan pressure to clear the way for more extensive vetting of his administration picks, President elect-Donald Trump's transition team announced Tuesday that they entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice for background checks and security clearances. The move comes after weeks of speculation about whether Trump would follow the normal procedures for presidential transitions for digging into the backgrounds of those proposed for top federal jobs. Some top Republicans had called for the FBI to conduct background checks of Trump's nominees to lead to key agencies. “The background checks are important," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. The Trump transition said the agreement signed Tuesday would allow them "to submit names for background checks and security clearances" to the Justice Department. Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a statement. The backgrounds of some Trump nominees are raising concerns. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration as Trump's attorney general pick after meeting resistance. Gaetz was investigated but never charged by the DOJ over sex trafficking allegations, which he denies. Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for defense secretary, was accused of sexual assault but never charged and denies the allegations. He paid a financial settlement to his accuser. Other allegations have surfaced from the years Hegseth oversaw two veterans' groups. A whistleblower report alleged Hegseth had been forced out of the non-profit groups for personal misconduct, mismanagement of funds and intoxication on the job. Media reports indicated Trump's team was not using the FBI to screen nominees for top jobs. Amid the escalating controversy surrounding Hegseth, some senators have been outspoken about the need for a deep look into the background of every nominee. "It’s important that we thoroughly vet the nominees for these very important decisions,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said of the defense secretary pick. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the MOU. Savannah Kuchar and Francesca Chambers contributed to this reportInternational News: United Nations warn Haiti is one of the worst places to be a child amid crisis
Discover the Hidden Beauty of Our Busy World in U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón's New Picture Book "And, Too, the Fox" illustrated by Gaby D'Alessandro
NEW YORK (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump's lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional "disruptions to the institution of the Presidency." In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump's lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the extraordinary circumstances of his impending return to the White House. "Wrongly continuing proceedings in this failed lawfare case disrupts President Trump's transition efforts," the attorneys continued, before citing the "overwhelming national mandate granted to him by the American people on November 5, 2024." Trump's lawyers also cited President Joe Biden's recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges. "President Biden asserted that his son was 'selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,' and 'treated differently,'" Trump's legal team wrote. The Manhattan district attorney, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned." Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a "ridiculous suggestion." Following Trump's election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump's prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse the conviction, which involved efforts to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels, whose affair allegations threatened to disrupt his 2016 campaign. He has denied any wrongdoing. Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Merchan hasn't set a timetable for a decision. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. A dismissal would erase Trump's historic conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump's parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels, just before the 2016 presidential election, to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. Prosecutors cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump's company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses - concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has pledged to appeal the verdict if the case is not dismissed. He and his lawyers said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work.This incident serves as a reminder of the prevalence of fake news and rumors in today's digital age. With the rise of social media and instant messaging platforms, information can spread rapidly and without proper verification, leading to confusion, panic, and misguided actions. It underscores the need for individuals to be vigilant, critical, and discerning when consuming and sharing information online.Sony's stock price soared to new heights as investors showed confidence in the company's gaming division. With popular game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and a wide array of engaging titles, Sony Interactive Entertainment has firmly established itself as a powerhouse in the gaming industry. The recent release of highly anticipated games such as "Spider-Man: Miles Morales" and "Demon's Souls" has not only captivated gamers worldwide but also boosted Sony's financial performance.
NextCure stock hits 52-week low at $1.00 amid market challengesThe Central Government's recent announcement regarding the real estate market in 2025 has generated significant interest and speculation among industry stakeholders and the general public. The key message is clear: the real estate market must remain stable, and measures will be taken to support this goal.