LGBTQ news and entertainment
Some news items I thought are worth your time: • New Music: Out pop artist Grant Knoche throws down some pretty slick choreography in his new music video, “Intrusive Thoughts.” Nice mid-tempo dance-pop with a little touch of sonic grunge. Continue reading “New Music From Grant Knoche ‘Intrusive Thoughts’ + More News”
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) (screen capture)
Benjamin Netanyahu (image via Flickr)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was formally charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust on Thursday, making him the first Israeli premier to be indicted while in office and sending Israel’s already stalemated political system into further disarray.
Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit capped almost three years of investigation and months of speculation by handing down a 63-page indictment against the country’s longest-serving prime minister and its center of political gravity for the last decade.
The cases against Netanyahu center on police allegations that the prime minister and his wife, Sara, accepted more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods in exchange for political favors and that Netanyahu interceded with regulators and lawmakers on behalf of two media companies in exchange for positive news stories.
Netanyahu has consistently denied all of the allegations calling the accusations and investigation a ‘witch hunt.’ Now, where have we heard that term before? Hmm… (image via Flickr/CC license)
Donny and Marie Osmond end their 11-year run at the Flamingo (photo: Denise Truscello)
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| Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin (images via Facebook) |
This looks to be the story of the day, especially with the inclusion of actresses Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) and Lori Loughlin (Full House). According to court filings, those indicted allegedly paid millions in bribes to get their children into elite colleges as well as cheating on entrance exams. Via the New York Times:
Federal prosecutors charged dozens of people on Tuesday in a major college admission scandal that involved wealthy parents, including Hollywood celebrities and prominent business leaders, paying bribes to get their children into elite American universities. Thirty-three parents were charged in the case. Also implicated were top college coaches, who were accused of accepting millions of dollars to help admit students to Wake Forest, Yale, Stanford, the University of Southern California and other schools, regardless of their academic or sports ability, officials said. Along with the Hollywood stars Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, those charged included prominent business leaders, a fashion designer and a top lawyer, as well as exam administrators accused of manufacturing students’ achievements and private admissions counselors accused of coordinating it all, officials said. Federal authorities say dozens of individuals were involved in a nationwide bribery and fraud scheme to help students gain admission to elite colleges and universities. Racketeering charges against 12 of the defendants are detailed in this indictment, one of a number of charging documents in the case.
William Rick Singer, the founder of the college preparatory business the Edge College & Career Network (aka The Key), is apparently at the center of the scandal. Singer has already pleaded guilty to charges and is reportedly cooperating with federal prosecutors. His organization allegedly helped students cheat on standardized tests, like the SAT, and facilitated bribes to prep coaches who helped students gain access into college with fake athletic credentials. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Huffman’s daughter took the test in December 2017, and received a 1420 on the test – a 400 point improvement from a previous attempt. Related: How to take precautions to avoid back-to-school scams
The Clinton campaign released this new campaign ad just hours after the New York State Attorney General’s announcement that he will be investigating the Trump Foundation for possible illegal or corrupt practices.
From Politico:
“You’ve probably heard Trump talk about the Clinton Foundation, but you might not have heard that while he attacks one of America’s top charities, his foundation has been fined for an illegal donation,” a narrator intones, as graphics showing the Clinton Foundation’s top ratings from Charity Watch, GuideStar and Charity Navigator are displayed on screen.
“She cashed the check, blocked the case, and he tried to cover up the donation,” the ad alleges, before concluding with a picture of a hard hat-wearing Trump grinning in front of workers. “So, when you hear Donald Trump talk about corrupt politics, remember which candidate actually practices it.”
You’ll recall that in 2013, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office announced it was looking into joining a class action suit against Trump University. At the same time, Bondi asked Donald Trump for a campaign donation.
Three days later, Trump’s $25,000 check arrived in Florida. Within days Bondi announced she would not be following up on the Trump U. action.
Put another way, imagine you were robbed. Before the robber is charged he makes a campaign donation to the police chief, and the next thing you know charges are not filed and he’s set free.
Smell right to you?
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| Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi |
A Massachusetts lawyer has requested federal prosecutors look into bribery charges against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump.
The issue at hand goes back to 2013 when Bondi was reviewing complaints against Trump University, now at the center of several fraud lawsuits.
Just days after her campaign sought, and received, a $25,000 donation to her political action committee from Donald Trump, Bondi decided against investigating the complaints.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
The Orlando Sentinel reported on Sept. 13, 2013 that Bondi’s office was looking into the Trump complaints. Campaign finance records show Bondi’s political committee, And Justice for All, received the $25,000 donation from Trump on Sept. 17, 2013.
“Evidence strongly indicates that Bondi’s decision not to initiate or participate in litigation against Trump University was given in exchange for Trump’s contribution based on the short time period between the receipt of the political contribution and the announcement of Bondi’s decision not to participate in the New York litigation,” Larrabee’s complaint states.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Bondi’s political consultant Marc Reichelderfer said she personally solicited the donation from Trump. Larrabee filed state ethics and elections complaints against Bondi over the Trump donation after the report was published.
Those complaints are still being reviewed, but Bondi called the allegations untrue. A spokeswoman for Bondi did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.