National News

Trump co-defendant takes plea deal, agrees to testify in Georgia election case

Fulton County Sheriff's Office

(ATLANTA, Ga.) -- One of former President Donald Trump's co-defendants charged in the Georgia election interference case is taking a plea deal in which he will agree to testify against others in the case.

Scott Hall appeared Friday in court for what Judge Scott McAfee said was a "negotiated resolution."

The arrangement marks the first plea deal in the case.

As part of the deal, Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties.

He will get probation and has agreed to testify moving forward, including at the trial of other co-defendants.

Asked if he understands this is a "negotiated plea," Hall said, "I do."

Hall, a Georgia bail bondsman, was charged in relation to the alleged breach of voting machine equipment in the wake of the 2020 election in Coffee County, Georgia.

During the hearing, the allegations surrounding the voting breach were laid out. It was said that Hall and several of his co-defendants "entered into a conspiracy to intentionally interfere" with the 2020 election results and that their goal was to "unlawfully" access voting machines in Coffee County in order to obtain data.

"The conspiracy also included obtaining images of ballots," they said in court.

At the top of the hearing, Judge McAfee said this "was not a matter that had been scheduled today," but that he was "informed by both parties that they would like to have an impromptu court hearing."

Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty to all charges in a sweeping racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.

The former president says his actions were not illegal and that the investigation is politically motivated.

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Duane Davis indicted for murder in fatal drive-by shooting of Tupac: Official

amphotora/Getty Images

(LAS VEGAS) -- Duane Keith Davis has been indicted on a murder charge in connection with the shooting of Tupac Shakur, who was killed during a drive-by in Las Vegas in 1996.

Davis was indicted on Thursday by a Clark County grand jury on one count of open murder with use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement, according to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. The suspect is expected to appear in court in the coming days.

The celebrated hip-hop artist was shot on Sept. 7, 1996, in Las Vegas and died in the hospital six days later from his injuries at the age of 25.

"For 27 years the family of Tupac Shakur has been waiting for justice," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a press briefing on Friday, adding that detectives spent "countless hours" on the homicide investigation.

Davis claims to be one of two living witnesses, along with former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, to the Vegas shooting that killed the rapper, according to a search warrant released by police.

A brawl that broke out between members and affiliates of two feuding Compton, California, gangs -- Mob Piru and the South Side Compton Crips -- just hours before the deadly drive-by led to the "retaliatory shooting" that killed Tupac, according to Lt. Jason Johansson.

Tupac, Knight and members of the Mob Piru gang had attended a Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand that was also attended by members of the South Side Compton Crips -- including Davis, the gang's "shot caller," and his nephew Orlando Anderson -- Johansson said. While leaving the fight, a brawl captured on hotel security footage broke out near the elevator bank, with Anderson kicked and punched.

"Duane Davis devised a plan to obtain a firearm and retaliate against Suge Knight and Tupac for what happened to Anderson," Johansson said.

As Tupac was headed to an after-party in a black BMW driven by Knight, a white Cadillac pulled up alongside the car near the Strip and "immediately began shooting," Johansson said. Davis, Anderson and two others -- Terrence Brown and Deandre Smith- -- were in the Cadillac, according to Johansson.

Investigators knew the incident involved out-of-town victims and suspects, but never had enough evidence to bring forward a criminal charge, Johansson said.

The case remained cold for decades until "reinvigorated" in 2018 when new information came to light -- "specifically, Duane Davis' own admissions to his involvement in this homicide investigation that he provided to numerous different media outlets," Johansson said.

Police more recently conducted a nighttime search of Davis' Las Vegas-area home in July in connection with the Tupac murder investigation.

Davis was taken into custody without incident early Friday morning while on a walk near his home where the search occurred, the official said.

Magazine articles about Tupac and his death were among the items seized by police from the Henderson home during the search, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News. The search warrant listed a "copy of 'Vibe magazine' on Tupac" among the items seized.

Nearly 13 hours of body camera footage in the search were released in response to a public records request by ABC News. The video has been redacted -- it goes black and silent -- when SWAT team members are on private property, but otherwise shows the raid taking place and Davis -- known as Keffe D or Keefy D -- talking to police outside of his home.

Davis is the only living suspect in the homicide, according to Johansson, who noted that the charge of murder does not have a statute of limitations.

Anderson was shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in Los Angeles County in 1998.

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Sea lion escapes from Central Park Zoo pool amid severe New York City flooding

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- A sea lion escaped from its pool at the Central Park Zoo on Friday amid the severe flooding that's pounding New York City, officials said.

"Zoo staff monitored the sea lion as she explored the area before returning to the familiar surroundings of the pool and the company of the other two sea lions," Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo and executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium, said in a statement.

The sea lion never beached the zoo's secondary perimeter, Breheny said.

The water has since receded and the animals are safe in their exhibit, he said.

The zoo is closed on Friday due to the severe weather.

Flash flood warnings were issued across all five New York City boroughs on Friday as heavy rain hit the region.

Over 5.6 inches of rain was recorded in Central Park by Friday afternoon.

"If you are home, stay home," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference. "We could possibly see 8 inches of rain before the day is over."

The rain is expected to lighten up Friday night, but it won't stop until Saturday.

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Baton Rouge police reckon with mounting allegations of misconduct and abuse

Baton Rouge Police Department Deputy Chief Troy Lawrence, Sr. -- Baton Rouge Police Department

(BATON ROUGE, La.) -- The Baton Rouge Police Department announced charges against four police officers in the Street Crimes Unit that stemmed from a separate incident other than the allegations levied against officers in the unit last week.

"Today, you're going to hear about accountability," Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul said on Friday. He encouraged citizens to go the FBI with any complaints about the unit.

The officers, including one high ranking deputy, were all booked Thursday night, stemming from an incident that occurred in September 2020.

The police chief said a male subject had been under arrest and officers on the unit allegedly attempted to strip search the individual in the bathroom. In order to subdue the suspect, officers had to deploy a taser which triggered the body cameras of the officers.

"The officers didn't realize that the body camera was on until after the incident. An officer was then directed by his supervisor to show them what was recorded on the body camera," according to Paul. "According to our investigation, we learned that a supervisor believed that the contents of that video were violations of our policy and excessive use of force and then directed an officer to get rid of the body camera so that the evidence could not be downloaded in the docking station."

A plan was then allegedly devised by the officers to get rid of the footage, the chief said.

Deputy Chief Troy Lawrence Sr, Jesse Barcelona, Todd Thomas, and Doug Chutz, all former officers and members of the department, were charged.

The Street Crimes Unit has faced scrutiny in recent weeks after allegations of mistreatment of detainees, including at a now-shuttered police warehouse that officers allegedly called the "Brave Cave," according to complaints made against the department.

The charges against the four officers, however, are not related to the "Brave Cave" case.

The FBI announced over the weekend they are investigating the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) following allegations that some officers "abused their authority."

The New Orleans FBI Field Office, the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana have opened the probe, with investigators "reviewing the matter for potential federal violations," the FBI New Orleans said in a statement, while urging anyone with information on the case to contact them.

The department's police chief reported the allegations about the warehouse to the FBI, a source familiar with the investigation said Tuesday.

At a tense Baton Rouge City Council meeting on Wednesday, Paul said that in past incidents he has looked to hold police officers who don't follow the law accountable.

The chief also apologized to the community for a passionate speech at the city council meeting Wednesday night.

"I do understand that my delivery yesterday during the City Council meeting may not have represented to some my role as a leader, but I do not apologize for standing up for what is right," the police chief said. "Although my passion may have offended some. That was not my intention. Please understand that my passion comes from my connection to the city and wanting to see it win."

The chief said he couldn't get into any more details about the charges he announced today or the "Brave Cave" allegations, because of the ongoing nature of the investigations.

"I have concern that this investigation required some federal independent oversight based on some of the things I learned early on," he said.

The mayor also offered a full-throated defense of the police chief and highlighted how he has improved the department and drove down homicide rates all while doing it in a challenging political environment.

"We have been effective in holding criminals accountable in this city because of our strategies and Chief Paul's leadership." Mayor Sharon Broome said. "We have made significant investments in the Baton Rouge Police Department, which have resulted in a higher pay for our officers and now nearly two straight years of double-digit reduction in homicides and nonfatal shootings."

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Fast-food workers in California to earn $20 an hour in 2024

Elvira Laskowski/Getty Images

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- More than 500,000 fast-food workers in California will soon earn at least $20 an hour as a result of a new bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom joined labor leaders, legislators and fast-food workers in Los Angeles on Thursday, hailing the achievement as a result of the group effort to increase the state's minimum wage for fast-food employees.

"California is home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who for decades have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions," Newsom said. "Today, we take one step closer to fairer wages, safer and healthier working conditions, and better training by giving hardworking fast-food workers a stronger voice and seat at the table."

The legislation, AB 1228, "authorized the Fast Food Council to set fast-food restaurant standards for minimum wage, and develop proposals for other working conditions, including health and safety standards and training," a press release from Newsom's office said.

The newly established Fast Food Council is comprised of a nine-person group that has two representatives from the fast-food industry, two franchisee or restaurant owners, two employee representatives, two employee advocates and one member of the public. The council was created to ensure that workers have a stronger say in setting minimum wages and working conditions, including health and safety standards.

"Today’s victory is just the beginning," Ingrid Vilorio, a California fast-food worker and leader in the Fight for $15, said. "From day one of our movement, we have demanded a seat at the table so we could improve our pay and working conditions. This moment was built by every fast-food worker, both here in California and across the country, who has bravely gone on strike, exposed the issues in our industry and made bold demands of corporations that we knew could do better by their frontline workers. We now have the power to win transformational changes for every fast-food cook, cashier and barista in our state. We hope that what we win here shows workers in other industries and other states that when we fight, we win!"

Starting April 1, 2024, the minimum wage for the state's 500,000 fast-food workers will increase to $20 per hour. The average hourly wage in 2022 was $16.21.

The new law allows the council to increase the minimum wage annually from 2025 through 2029, but it cannot exceed a 3.5% increase or the annual change in the Consumer Price Index, a measurement set by the Bureau of Labor statistics on average prices of goods and urban wage earners.

It will also "allow the council to develop and propose other labor, health or safety standards for rule-making by the appropriate body," the release from Newsom's office said.

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New York City faces major flooding as heavy rain inundates region

ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- New York City is facing major flooding as heavy rain slams New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Flash flood warnings were issued in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Island.

Some of the most severe flooding is in Brooklyn, which is submerged under at least 6 inches of rain.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy have declared states of emergency.

The rainfall rate exceeded 2 inches per hour in Brooklyn Friday morning and rainfall rates could stay at 1 inch per hour through Friday evening.

"If you are home, stay home," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference Friday. "We could possibly see 8 inches of rain before the day is over."

Some New Yorkers have been rescued from flooded cars and basement apartments, but there have been no critical injuries or fatalities, officials said.

A travel advisory was issued in New York City.

The city's subways have "only extremely limited" service available, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said, and Amtrak told customers to prepare for train delays.

New York City's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport are reporting major cancellations.

All flights to LaGuardia were put on hold Friday morning due to the heavy rain while JFK recorded 7.88 inches of rain, marking the airport's wettest day on record.

By Friday night, the rain in New York City will lighten up. Showers may continue Saturday morning, but the rain will move out of the Northeast by Saturday afternoon.

This month now marks New York City's rainiest September since 1882. New York City has seen more than 14 inches of rain this month; the city's average September rainfall is just 4.43 inches.

ABC News' Sam Sweeney contributed to this report.

 

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Three-year-old Cleveland boy shot dead while in car with his mom: Police

Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- A 3-year-old boy has been shot and killed while in the car with his mother and brother in Cleveland, authorities said.

An adult man -- who was not in the car -- was also shot in the Thursday afternoon incident, Cleveland police said. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Several persons of interest have been detained, police said Friday, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

The 3-year-old's "heartbreaking" killing "is another reminder that we must come together as a city, state and nation to address this violence and its root causes," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in a statement.

Last year, at least 6,152 children were killed or injured in shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive.

"No words can adequately express the pain and the sorrow of this tragedy. In the face of this loss, I ask the community to come together to support this family and to reaffirm our commitment to a safer city," Bibb said. "We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice."

 

 

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Hundreds of children, teens have been victims of gun violence this year

Steve Prezant/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- Fatal shooting deaths among children and teens continue to climb this year amid a series of recent gun violence incidents involving youths.

So far this year, 229 children under the age of 11 and 1,082 teenagers have been killed by gun violence, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The tally of injured includes 515 children and 3,025 teens.

A 3-year-old boy was shot and killed while in the car with his mother and brother in Cleveland, Ohio, authorities said.

An adult man who was not in the car was also shot in the Thursday afternoon incident and he suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Cleveland police said.

Several persons of interest have been detained, police said Friday. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Three teens who were killed in a Sept. 24 shooting in Columbia, South Carolina, have been identified as 16-year-old Jakobe Fanning, 17-year-old Dre’Von Riley and 16-year-old Caleb Wise, the sheriff's office said.

Two 17-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy have been arrested for three counts of murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of handgun under the age of 18, according to local officials.

A 2-year-old girl was killed in a drive-by shooting in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 24 alongside an older woman who is not related to the child, according to ABC affiliate WFAA. Both the toddler and the woman were taken to the hospital, where the toddler was pronounced dead.

“My grandbaby ain't your target. So why does she have to die? Like, why would you shoot a 2-year-old," Zyah’s maternal step-grandmother, Deborah Harper Smith, told the local news outlet.

Five victims were transported to local hospitals for their injuries following a mass shooting on Sept. 23, according to a press release from police in Chesapeake, Virginia.

A 14-year-old is dead after succumbing to his injuries from the shooting. Four others were also injured, according to police. The other victims were identified as two male juveniles and two adult males.

ABC News' Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

 

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'Stressful': Striking autoworkers living on $500 a week from UAW

Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- Tens of thousands of striking employees at the Big 3 automakers are receiving $500 a week in substitute pay from the United Auto Workers -- roughly half of their previous income.

Some workers will need to draw on savings or support from family members within weeks while cutting back on expenses like dental work and streaming services, according to interviews with two UAW members employed by Ford.

The financial pain endured by striking autoworkers comes alongside business losses incurred by diminished production at the Big 3 -- General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, which owns Jeep and Chrysler.

A 10-day strike among the 143,000 autoworkers represented by the UAW was expected to cost the companies a total of nearly $1 billion and to deny workers about $860 million in lost wages, according to a report released last month by the Anderson Economic Group.

As of Friday, the work stoppage had stretched for more than two weeks, though it had so far touched only a fraction of the workers and company facilities.

"The strike is the nuclear option," Art Wheaton, a labor professor at the Worker Institute at Cornell University, told ABC News. "This is mutually assured destruction."

"The workers want to withstand the strike one day longer than the companies so that they'll make a deal," Wheaton added.

Autoworkers have walked off the job at one assembly plant associated with each of the Big 3, as well as 38 parts distribution locations run by GM and Stellantis.

In all, roughly 18,300 autoworkers have walked out on strike, encompassing a fraction of the nearly 150,000 workers represented by the UAW in the contract dispute. UAW President Shawn Fain has said the strike will expand to include more workers if negotiations stall at the bargaining table.

In a statement on Thursday, a Ford spokesperson said the company remains engaged in talks with the UAW.

"Negotiations continue. Our focus remains on working diligently with the UAW to reach a deal that rewards our workforce and enables Ford to invest in a vibrant and growing future," the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for General Motors criticized the union's decision to expand the strike, saying the company has put forward a series of "historic" contract proposals.

"The strike escalation last week by the UAW's top leadership was unnecessary," the spokesperson said. "We have said repeatedly that nobody wins in a strike and that effects go well beyond our employees on the plant floor and negatively impact our customers, suppliers and the communities where we do business."

Stellantis declined to respond to ABC News' request for comment. On Thursday, a spokesperson for Stellantis said in a statement: "We continue to approach these negotiations responsibly and bargain in good faith."

The UAW did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Mack Hall, a striking Ford employee at an assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, said he prepared financially in recent months by stashing away some of each paycheck and avoiding major expenses such as a vacation or new vehicle.

"I'm willing to make that sacrifice," Hall said, saying that he stands to bring in roughly half of his previous weekly income.

The experience reminds him of the pay cut that he and other autoworkers took as carmakers struggled during the Great Recession. "We've been sacrificing since 2012," he said.

In addition to the weekly $500 payment, the union's strike fund will provide reimbursement for health care costs. Since vision and dental costs will not be covered, Hall went in for a teeth cleaning and crown before the work stoppage began, he said.

"That's the last thing I did," he said, adding that his savings will last him four months before he goes into debt.

The targeted strike strategy allows the UAW to "create chaos" for the automakers, since they don't know where the strike will take hold next, Wheaton said. But the move also helps the union preserve its strike fund, he noted.

The union held $825 million in its strike fund before workers joined the picket line, allowing it to carry out a work stoppage among all of the workers that it represents at the Big 3 automakers for about 12 weeks, according to analysts at Evercore ISI. By narrowing the strike, the union can draw down the fund over a longer period of time.

The union has demanded a 40% pay increase combined over the four-year duration of a new contract, as well as a 32-hour workweek at 40-hour pay, among other terms.

The Big 3 automakers have offered a 20% raise and have appeared to reject the stipulation on the length of the workweek.

Marisa Beck, a Ford employee whose plant remains in operation, said she worries about the financial blow if the union were to call her out on strike. A single parent of a 10-year old child, Beck said the union stipend would cut her pay by nearly half.

"It's pretty stressful, particularly being the only income in the house, to think that you're going to be on strike and make way less," Beck said.

To prepare, Beck has cut expenses like some video streaming subscriptions and the regular purchase of a 5-gallon water cooler. "My daughter wanted the water cooler back," Beck said. "There's nothing wrong with tap water."

Still, Beck lacks enough savings to withstand the potential cut in pay, saying she would immediately need to rely on support from family members. Even so, Beck wouldn't hesitate if the union called her out on strike, she added.

"We've got buttons that say, 'I don't want to strike but I will,'" Beck said. "You really couldn't sum it up any better."

 

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Five takeaways ahead of Trump's $250 million civil fraud trial

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(NEW YORK) -- One year ago, on Sept. 21, 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office had filed a $250 million lawsuit against Donald Trump, accusing the former president of fraudulent business practices.

Turning the title of Trump's bestselling business book on its head, James told reporters at a New York City press conference, "Claiming you have money you do not have does not amount to the Art of the Deal. It's the Art of the Steal."

Though Trump has denied all wrongdoing, a New York judge on Tuesday effectively decided the central allegation against Trump, ruling just days before the scheduled start of the trial that the former president committed fraud by repeatedly inflating the value of some of his signature properties. Trump attorney Alina Habba immediately said that Trump planned to appeal the decision.

The judge also canceled the Trump Organization's business certificates in New York, severely restricting Trump's ability to conduct business in the state moving forward -- a move that Habba called "nonsensical" and "outrageously overreaching."

Yet the ruling still left multiple matters unresolved -- including what additional penalties Trump might face and what might happen with the multiple causes of action included in the attorney general's suit -- which are due to be argued at the civil trial that starts on Monday.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but what in the court's mind does this trial now look like?" Trump attorney Chris Kise asked Judge Arthur Engoron during a pretrial conference on Wednesday, regarding the uncertainties that lie ahead.

Here are five takeaways as the parties prepare for Monday's scheduled trial.

Trump's lawyers could face an uphill battle

Trump and his co-defendants face a bench trial, meaning that the sole arbiter of the case is Engoron instead of a jury. In his scathing order Tuesday, Engoron sharply criticized Trump's business practices as belonging in a "fantasy world."

"In defendants' world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air; a disclaimer by one party casting responsibility on another party exonerates the other party's lies..." Engoron wrote, citing multiple arguments made by defense to justify the allegedly inflated valuations of Trump's assets. "That is a fantasy world, not the real world."

Engoron also appeared unconvinced by the depositions Trump has given in the case. The judge seemed to use the former president's words against him, citing transcribed comments Trump made about the inclusion of so-called "worthless clause" disclaimers included in his financial statements, which the defense has argued insulate the defendants from liability.

"However, defendants' reliance on these 'worthless' disclaimers is worthless," Engoron wrote.

Engoron similarly disagreed with the defense's argument that Trump's property values were "subjective" and therefore could not be fraudulent.

"The defenses Donald Trump attempts to articulate in his sworn deposition are wholly without basis in law or fact," Engoron wrote, adding that the documents presented to the court "clearly contain fraudulent valuations that defendants used in business."

Tuesday's ruling could hurt Trump's reputation as businessman

While Trump's public comments indicate he's been unfazed by the four criminal cases and additional civil lawsuits he faces, Tuesday's ruling appears to strike at the core of Trump's identity as a successful negotiator who propelled himself to the presidency on the strength of his business record.

In previous arguments, Kise described Trump as a "master of finding value where others do not" while arguing that Trump's alleged inflated valuations were a product of his business skill.

"This is why billionaires are billionaires," Kise said about Trump's business acumen.

However, Engoron's ruling methodically tore into Trump's business transactions, saying that the only way to explain the allegedly inflated valuations was fraud. Finding that Trump inflated the value of his triplex at Trump Tower by between $114 and $207 million, Engoron called out Trump for describing the property as three times its actual size to support his valuation.

"A discrepancy of this order of magnitude, by a real estate developer sizing up his own living space of decades, can only be considered fraud," Engoron said in his order.

"This has significant consequences for the business of Donald Trump here in New York," said ABC News chief legal analyst Dan Abrams. "If this holds up on appeal, this could mean he loses buildings, it means he loses properties."

Trump might appear in court

While Trump is not required to attend the trial, the attorney general plans to call the former president as a fact witness, according to a witness list provided to the court.

When Trump was initially deposed by the attorney general's office in August 2022, before the case was brought, Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 400 times -- but he took a more talkative approach during an April 2023 deposition, providing lengthy responses to questions posed by the government.

It remains unclear which approach Trump would adopt if he is called to the stand during the trial.

With so many witnesses, the trial could run for months

Before Tuesday's surprise ruling, Engoron estimated that the trial could take three months and end by Dec. 22. While his ruling is likely to limit the amount of evidence and testimony, the trial will still include lengthy direct and cross examination of dozens of witnesses.

The government's witness list, which was updated after Engoron's ruling, includes 27 people who would appear in the courtroom in person.

While the defense is unlikely to call all their witnesses, their list includes 127 people, in addition to anyone on the government's witness list.

The outcome could be expensive for Trump

The New York attorney general is seeking a $250 million ruling against Trump and his co-defendants -- and that penalty might only be the start of Trump's financial woes stemming from the trial.

James has also asked the court to bar Trump from entering into commercial real estate transactions in New York, to prevent him from applying for loans, and to disqualify him from serving as an officer of a New York corporation.

With his order to cancel Trump's New York business licenses, Engoron has directed Trump to begin the process of dissolving the companies held in his name, which could imperil the future of the Trump Organization and similar entities.

"This, you could argue, is more immediately perilous to some degree than some of the criminal cases to Donald Trump," Abrams said about the risk to Trump's checkbook.

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FBI arrests Proud Boys member who disappeared days before sentencing over role in Jan. 6

Christopher Worrell -- FBI

(WASHINGTON) -- The FBI has arrested a member of the Proud Boys who went missing just before he was set to be sentenced for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a spokesperson for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

"We can confirm the arrest of Christopher Worrell," the spokesperson told ABC News in a statement Thursday evening. "The FBI arrested him and the Collier County Sheriff's Office assisted."

Worrell, a 52-year-old from Naples, Florida, went missing in August just before he was going to be sentenced for several felonies he was convicted on over his conduct during the Jan. 6 riot.

Worrell -- a self-identified member of right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys -- pepper sprayed police during the attack on the Capitol, according to court documents.

A judge found Worrell guilty in May 2023 of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon, obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress, and obstructing, impeding, or interfering with officers during the commission of a civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, engaging in physical violence with a deadly or dangerous weapon all felonies, and an act of physical violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings, a misdemeanor. The verdict followed a five-day bench trial.

"Once on Capitol grounds, Worrell spewed vitriol for half an hour at the overwhelmed officers restraining the mob," according to an Aug. 13 sentencing memo filed by the Justice Department. "And when he saw an opportunity to pepper spray the police line from deep within the crowd, Worrell took it."

On Jan. 6, Worrell, wearing a tactical vest, carried pepper gel when he marched with other Proud Boys from the Washington Monument to the Capitol, according to court records. He warned officers he passed, "don't make us go against you," according to court records.

After the judge in his case was informed that Worrell had gone missing, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Worrell had been on house arrest after court records show he complained about the treatment at the Washington D.C. jail. The federal judge allowed him to await sentencing while on house arrest.

Prosecutors had sought a 14 year prison sentence for Worrell.

ABC News' Luke Barr and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this story.

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Suspect arrested in murder of Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere

EcoMap

(BALTIMORE) -- The manhunt for a convict accused of murdering a Baltimore tech CEO has ended, authorities said, even as the suspect's release on a prior conviction comes under further scrutiny.

Jason Dean Billingsley, 32, of Baltimore, was arrested in Maryland without incident around 11 p.m. ET Wednesday, authorities said.

Billingsley was wanted for first-degree murder, assault, reckless endangerment and other charges in connection with the death of Pava LaPere, 26, the founder of EcoMap Technologies.

Police found LaPere dead with "blunt-force trauma wounds" in a Baltimore apartment building on Monday, within hours of being reported missing, according to Baltimore Commissioner Richard Worley. There were no signs of forced entry and it is unclear if there was any previous connection between him and LaPere, Worley said. She is believed to have been killed on Friday, he said.

"I know this arrest does not bring back Pava LaPere," Worley told reporters during a press briefing Thursday. "But my hope is at least we can give a sense of closure to the city of Baltimore, the victims of all his crimes and all their families."

Billingsley was also being sought in connection with an attempted murder, arson and rape that occurred on Sept. 19 in the 800 block of Edmondson Avenue, police said.

In that case, police responding to the report of a fire found a man and woman suffering from multiple undisclosed injuries. They were transported to area hospitals in critical condition, police said at the time. A 5-year-old was also found on the upper level of the home unharmed, police said.

Billingsley worked at the building and knew the victims, who were targeted, according to Worley.

"All the indications are that this was not a random act of violence," Worley said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest in that case "within hours" and authorities were actively surveilling and tracking Billingsley to apprehend him when they announced on Tuesday that he was also a suspect in LaPere's murder, Worley said.

"We knew early on that the risk was when we went public, that the suspect would go underground, which is exactly what he did," Worley said.

They were within 300 feet of him during the press briefing when the devices authorities were tracking were disconnected, he said.

Amid the search, Worley warned that the suspect was believed to be "armed and dangerous."

"This individual will kill and he will rape; he will do anything he can to cause harm," Worley said.

Detectives are reviewing all cases since October 2022 "in order to determine any other connections," the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement.

Billingsley was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2015 and released in October 2022, according to Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services online records. Billingsley is a registered sex offender in the state's database.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all but 14 years suspended due to good-time credits -- also known as diminution credits -- given for good behavior and education under a Maryland statute. Additional time would likely be subtracted for any time served between arrest and sentencing and days off each month, according to ABC News legal contributor Brian Buckmire.

This type of release would typically require mandatory supervision, including "heavy surveillance," David Jaros, the faculty director of the Center for Criminal Justice Reform at the University of Baltimore, told ABC News.

Billingsley was on parole and probation and had previously been compliant with the sex offender registry unit, officials said.

When asked about Billingsley's release on good-time credits, Mayor Brandon Scott told reporters Thursday that every case is different, but when you look at the facts of the suspect's 2015 case, "you will agree that he shouldn't have been out in the streets."

Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates told reporters he didn't know all the details of the prior case, but considered Billingsley's plea deal and release "more or less systemic failure."

"Hindsight like they say is always 20/20," Bates said. "At the end of the day, I think the prosecutor who handled the case would say we had a dangerous individual off the streets for few years, yes. But we also now need to look at in terms of the system that allows for the diminution credits of an individual with this background as well as with those charges."

LaPere's family released a statement Wednesday reflecting on her life, compassion and work ethic.

"We have lost a deeply loved daughter, sister and friend who could understand all of us in a way that no other human being could. Pava had a unique vantage into our lives, and an intelligence to understand that each human is unique and irreplaceable," they said in the statement. "In life's darkest moments, Pava's council and reflection gave all of us a perspective, and the will to persevere despite the odds."

The family also remarked that LaPere, "loved Baltimore, its people, its potential, its art, its history and architecture."

"There was no bigger ambassador for all that is great about the city," they said,

EcoMap Technologies, a Baltimore-based company, said LaPere was a "visionary force" behind the startup as well as a "deeply compassionate and dedicated leader."

"The circumstances surrounding Pava's death are deeply distressing, and our deepest condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly devastating time," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

ABC News' Desiree Adib, Beatrice Peterson and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

 

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Hearing on deadly Maui wildfires seeks answers to cause, prevention efforts

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(NEW YORK) -- Hawaii energy and utility officials were grilled Thursday by House members seeking answers about how the deadly Maui wildfires started and could have been prevented.

"We must come to a complete understanding of how this disaster started to ensure Hawaii and other states are prepared to prevent and stop other deadly wildfires," the committee stated in a recent letter. "To that end, we seek a fuller understanding of the role, if any, of the electric infrastructure in this tragic event."

On Aug. 8, a series of deadly wildfires broke out across the island of Maui. At least 97 people were killed and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed.

According to the President & CEO of Hawaiian Electric Shelee Kimura, a fire at 6:30 a.m. was caused by power lines that fell in high winds. The Maui County Fire Department responded to the fire, reporting it at 9 a.m. as "100% contained" and later determining it to be "extinguished" and leaving the scene.

Kimura said all of Hawaiian Electric's power lines in West Maui had been de-energized for more than six hours when a second fire began in the same area around 3 p.m. The cause of this fire, which grew into the blaze that devastated the historic town of Lahaina, has not yet been determined.

Committee members questioned Kimura on the company's protocols for shutting off power lines in response to extreme weather conditions. Kimura said they were "very aware of the red flag warning," which is a warning from the National Weather Service that indicates warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds may combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.

She said that preemptive power shutdowns are not part of their wildfire mitigation plans, but that the company is reexamining their protocols.

Forecasters were indicating that it would be 35 to 45 miles per hour winds with gusts of 60 miles per hour. They later indicated as this was happening, that they had been forecasted that parts of the state were experiencing much higher winds and gusts of about 80 miles per hour," said Kimura, but she did not know when the warning came in about higher winds.

When asked in questioning, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission chairman Leodoloff R. Asuncion, Jr. said that HECO, the electric company, has the authority to proactively de-energize their power lines when they receive warnings from the National Weather Service.

Chief Energy Officer of the Hawai'i State Energy Office Mark B. Glick was questioned on changes to the policy to reduce vegetation that could cause a fire, as the ability of the electric company to clear brush and vegetation is limited.

According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders, evidence of a downed power line sparking dry brush on the island indicated that Hawaiian Electric equipment may have contributed to the fires. The committee also questioned what actions Hawaiian Electric took in hardening and modernizing the Maui electric grid amid growing wildfire threats.

Kimura said that community members have said they want to have power lines underground as a form of wildfire prevention and mitigation.

However, she added: "On a small island like Maui, with only 70,000 customers, that can get very expensive in a place where ... we have the highest rates in the nation. And we're already facing an economy where many of our people who have lived in Hawaii for a long time can no longer afford to live in Hawaii. So those are the kinds of considerations we have when we make these kinds of decisions."

The lawsuit alleges that Maui Electric Company, Limited, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company, Inc., and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. acted negligently by failing to power down their electrical equipment despite a National Weather Service red flag warning on Aug. 7.

A separate class-action lawsuit was also filed against Hawaiian Electric that alleges that the company "inexcusably kept their power lines energized" despite forecasts of high winds that could topple power lines and potentially ignite a fast-spreading blaze.

Kimura said in a statement that the allegations in the lawsuit from Maui County were "factually and legally irresponsible." She claimed the company's investigation showed it responded to both fires promptly.

"Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible. At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review," Jim Kelly, a spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric Industries, said about the lawsuit.

 

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Two found dead after plane crash launched massive search

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(NEW YORK) -- Two bodies were found Thursday morning following a plane crash in Ohio County after a widespread search had been launched for an instructor and student pilot, according to Kentucky State Police.

A severe thunderstorm had developed in the area the time of the suspected crash, according to the Ohio County Sheriff's Department.

Officials had been searching for an instructor pilot and a student pilot after the small plane crashed on Wednesday near Whitesville, Kentucky.

The plane was found in a heavily wooded area behind a church and a massive search and rescue operation was launched by foot and air to locate the two pilots.

The plane was reported missing by the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday. The plane was en route to Owensboro from Bowling Green when the tower lost contact.

A debris field was located by drone Thursday morning. An initial search was set up based on the flight path, the pilot's cellphone pings and the Life360 app.

Once the weather cleared, an airplane and three drones were launched to search the area.

Kentucky State Police and the FAA are investigating the crash.

 

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Powerball jackpot soars to $925 million ahead of next drawing

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(NEW YORK) -- An estimated $925 million jackpot is up for grabs in the next Powerball drawing on Saturday night.

It's the fourth-largest purse in the American lottery game's history and the second-largest this year, according to a press release from Powerball.

The grand prize, which has an estimated cash value of $432.4 million, ballooned passed the $900 million mark after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Wednesday night. However, four tickets -- purchased in California, Kansas, Maryland and New York -- matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes, Powerball said.

The jackpot was previously won on July 19, when a ticket purchased in California matched all five white balls and the red Powerball to claim $1.08 billion. Since then, there have been 30 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner.

Jackpot winners can either take the money as an immediate cash lump sum or in 30 annual payments over 29 years. Both advertised prize options do not include federal and jurisdictional taxes.

The jackpot grows based on game sales and interest, but the odds of winning the big prize stays the same -- 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball.

Powerball tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 U.S. states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. The drawings are also livestreamed online at Powerball.com.

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