thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Appeals court rules against convict over gender pronouns

NEW ORLEANS - A transgender convict has lost a federal appeal to have her name changed in court records — and to have the appeals court refer to her with feminine pronouns .
The case of Norman Varner — now Katherine Nicole Jett — divided a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of appeals in New Orleans .
The judges agreed , although for differing reasons , that the Varner name will remain on the prisoner ’ s “ judgment of confinement.
” That judgment was the result of a 2012 child pornography conviction and 15-year sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where the panel split was on a brief motion Jett filed in August .
It had a title — “ Motion to Use Female Pronouns When Addressing Appellant — ” and two sentences .
“ I am a woman and not referring to me as such leads me to feel that I am being discriminated against based on my gender identity .
I am a woman — can I not be referred to as one ?
” it said .
Judge Kyle Duncan wrote on behalf of himself and Judge Jerry E. Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue in more than five pages of argument and footnotes .
Duncan said granting the motion could pose complex problems including the possibility that granting such a motion might unintentionally convey a court ’ s “ tacit approval of the litigant ’ s underlying legal position.
” He also cited a guide to alternative gender pronouns from the LGBTQ+ Resources Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in saying that granting Jett ’ s motion could lead to complications and communications problems for the court .
“ If a court orders one litigant referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ‘ him ’ ) , then the court can hardly refuse when the next litigant moves to be referred to as ‘ xemself ’ ( instead of himself ) .
” Dennis said Duncan ’ s majority opinion was “ inappropriate ” and “ unnecessary ” and that it “ creates a controversy where there is none.
” “ In my view , Varner is simply requesting that this court , in this proceeding , refer to Varner using her preferred gender pronouns , ” Dennis wrote .
The matter appears moot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main point of the appeal — changing the name on the court document — Dennis said .
And Wednesday ’ s majority opinion does not set a legal precedent , said Dennis .
“ If it were necessary to write more and use pronouns to refer to Varner , I would grant Varner the relief she seeks , ” Dennis added .
“ As the majority notes , though no law compels granting or denying such a request , many courts and judges adhere to such requests out of respect for the litigant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination to the court by President Donald Trump had been opposed in 2018 by civil rights groups that cited his work as an attorney for conservative causes , which included representing a Virginia county school board fighting a transgender high school student ’ s desire to use the boys ’ bathroom .
In that matter , Duncan appeared to have a different view on whether using a litigant ’ s chosen pronoun would prejudice a case .
“ This petition uses ‘ he , ’ ‘ him , ’ and ‘ his ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be referred to with male pronouns , “ Duncan wrote in that case .
“ That choice does not concede anything on the legal question of what G.G.
’ s ‘ sex ’ is for purposes of Title IX and its implementing regulation.
” Wednesday ’ s majority opinion drew harsh criticism on social media sites from LGBTQ rights activists and praise in a news release from the conservative group Liberty Counsel .
As Norman Varner , Jett pleaded guilty to “ attempted receipt of child pornography ” and was sentenced in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion .
In April , signing her self-filed appeal as “ Katherine Jett FKA Norman Varner , ” she asked for a reversal of a Texas-based federal judge ’ s denial of her effort to change a court record , her “ judgment of confinement ” so her new name , approved by a state court in Kentucky in 2018 , would be used in federal prison records .
Her appeal says she has undergone hormone replacement therapy and plans gender reassignment surgery .
Dennis was nominated to the 5th Circuit by President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronald Reagan .


thetorontostar--2020-01-17--California teachers sue after jetliner dumps fuel on schools

LOS ANGELES - Four teachers from a Los Angeles-area school sued Delta Air Lines on Friday , saying they were exposed to jet fuel when a plane with engine trouble dumped its fuel over a densely populated area , including several schools , while making an emergency return to the airport .
At a news conference , the teachers described the fuel as drizzling down like raindrops with “ overwhelming ” fumes .
They said their panicked students screamed and cried .
“ The plaintiffs could feel the fuel on their clothes , their flesh , their eyes and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney , Gloria Allred , who noted that her firm may add teachers or students to the lawsuit .
“ Fuel penetrated their mouths and noses as well , producing a lasting and severe irritation , and a lasting and a noxious taste and smell , ” Allred said .
Officials have said nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers were exposed to the smelly vapour Tuesday and were examined for minor skin and lung irritations and told to wash with soap and water .
No one was taken to a hospital .
The teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident and suffered physical and emotional pain .
The lawsuit filed i n Los Angeles County Superior Court by the four teachers at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy seeks unspecified damages .
The plaintiffs , Lisette Barajas , Laura Guzman , Mariana De La Torre and Anabel Samperio , appeared at the news conference with their attorney but declined to be identified individually when they spoke .
Delta declined to comment on the pending litigation .
The airline previously said Flight 89 to Shanghai had an engine problem after takeoff and needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airport .
The Boeing 777-200 landed safely after circling back over Los Angeles while dumping fuel to reach a safe landing weight .
The weight of a full load of fuel carries a risk of damaging ta jetliner during landing — which can be expensive for an airline to fix .
Even if there isn ’ t damage , airlines try to avoid overweight landings because they are required to inspect planes , which puts them out of service .
Not much is known about the health effects of exposure to kerosene-type jet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services Department .
Studies using military personnel suggest it can affect the nervous system , but that research involved people who work around jet fuel all the time .
Rats that were fed kerosene showed no increase in tumors , the agency said in a 2017 summary .
The flight crew radioed that the jet needed to return due to a compressor stall , a potentially serious problem .
The pilot or co-pilot initially said a fuel dump was not needed but the aircraft later did begin releasing streams of fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it immediately began investigating , but no detailed information about the situation facing the pilots has been released .
The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the fuel dump , citing procedures that “ call for fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas , typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground.
” Associated Press Writer Bernard Condon contributed to this story from New York .

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thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Grandpa forgot something: $43,170 found in footstool

OWOSSO , Mich. - The footstool didn ’ t feel right .
That ’ s what happens when someone stashes $ 43,170 inside and apparently forgets about it .
Indeed , the money was discovered inside a footstool that was donated to a Michigan resale shop in Owosso Township .
Howard Kirby bought the piece and other furniture for $ 70 after Christmas .
He was stunned Sunday when his daughter-in-law unzipped the cushion and shouted .
After the shock wore off , he began the extraordinary step of returning the money to the former owners .
“ I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Christ as I can , and this is the moral thing to do , ” Kirby , 54 , said .
“ This is going to help them .
I ’ m so happy for them.
” The footstool was part of a living room set donated to a Habitat For Humanity store by Kim Fauth-Newberry and her husband .
The furniture had belonged to her grandfather , Phillip Fauth , who died in July .
Fauth-Newberry said Fauth was a frugal man who always paid in cash , even $ 9,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered money was separated with paper clips and topped with handwritten notes .
“ This is crazy , ” Fauth-Newberry said Thursday , staring at stacks of hundred dollar bills .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Plane slides off taxiway in icy weather as storm hits US

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
- A plane slid off an icy taxiway at Kansas City International Airport on Friday as a sprawling winter storm hits large sections of the Midwest and beyond , leading to the closure of schools , universities and government offices .
The Delta Air Lines flight was taxiing to be de-iced before flying to Detroit when the nosegear slipped off the taxiway , said Delta spokeswoman Martha Witt .
There were no reports of injuries aboard the Airbus A319 , which was carrying 123 passengers and a crew of six .
Witt said the airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight 1114 on other planes .
The airport was closed and numerous flights were cancelled in the morning but flights resumed about noon .
Most Friday flights from Nashville , Tennessee , were cancelled , likely disrupting travel plans for fans of the Tennessee Titans flying into Kansas City for Sunday ’ s AFC championship game with the Chiefs , KCTV reported .
Lambert lnternational Airport in St. Louis reported more than 130 flights cancelled as of noon Friday and American Airlines suspended all flights to Missouri ’ s Columbia Regional Airport until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories , saying the storm will create hazardous travel conditions from the Plains into the Northeast through the weekend .
Snow is forecast over much of the Great Lakes , with a blizzard warning for parts of the Upper Midwest .
The winter weather advisory extended south into western Oklahoma and northern Arkansas , where freezing rain was expected Friday .
In South Dakota and Minnesota , dozens of schools cancelled classes Friday ahead of snowfall expected during the day .
In Kansas Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Topeka area , urging people in a news release to “ stay safe and warm , exercise caution and allow road crews to do their job.
“ A storm that hit during the morning commute Friday coated the roads of Salt Lake City with up to 5 inches ( 13 centimetres ) of snow .
Advance warning allowed a delayed start for state government and some schools , which kept the number of crashes to a relatively low 75 , police said .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Woman accused of luring slain real estate agent to her death

MINNEAPOLIS - A woman who had worked as a probation officer is accused of luring a real estate agent to a Minnesota house before the agent was kidnapped and killed on New Year ’ s Eve , prosecutors alleged Friday .
Elsa Segura , 28 , of Fridley , was charged Friday in Hennepin County court with one count of kidnapping .
Segura is accused of luring 28-year-old Monique Baugh to a home that was for sale .
Two men are accused of kidnapping Baugh in a rental truck .
Segura allegedly tried to lure Baugh to the Maple Grove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was with another real estate agent .
Baugh was found fatally shot , her hands bound by tape , in a north Minneapolis alley on Dec. 31 .
Her boyfriend was shot in the couple ’ s Minneapolis home with their two young daughters present but survived .
Two men are accused of kidnapping Baugh from Maple Grove , a northwestern Minneapolis suburb , in a rental truck .
Cedric Berry , 41 , was charged earlier this month with second-degree murder , attempted second-degree murder and kidnapping .
Another man , Berry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was charged late Thursday with one count each of second-degree murder and kidnapping for his alleged role in the case .
Davis was charged by arrest warrant and is not in custody .
The charges did not specify a motive , but search warrant affidavits tied Baugh ’ s killing to a suspected drug rivalry between her boyfriend and Berry .
Baugh ’ s boyfriend said in an interview that he did not know Berry .
Segura does not have an attorney listed for her case .
A phone message left for Berry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately returned Friday .
Hennepin County authorities confirmed to the Star Tribune that Segura had worked as a county probation officer .
Court records also show that Segura was a child survivor of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minneapolis in August 2007 that killed 13 people and injured 145 others .
According to the charges against Segura and Davis , Baugh received a voice mail from an unknown phone number on Dec. 29 from a woman named “ Lisa ” who requested a showing for a home .
The caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomorrow morning.
” Baugh later received several calls from the number and “ found this very odd , ” the charges said .
“ She expressed to others that she did not know how this person obtained her personal phone number , ” according to the complaint.. Police traced the phone number to Segura , whose voice was “ verified by law enforcement personnel who were personally familiar with her.
” A search warrant executed on the phone found that it was purchased on Dec. 29 .
It was not used for any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 , 2020 .
Video showed that Berry purchased the phone , the charges said .
Jon Collins , a spokesman for the Hennepin County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation , said Segura worked for the county from June 2014 to Dec. 18 , 2019 .


thetorontostar--2020-01-17--With governor’s reprieve, man released after murder-for-hire

NASHVILLE - A man who was serving a life sentence in a 1994 murder-for-hire plot in Tennessee is out of prison and on parole after the former governor granted him a reprieve .
Jeremy Ingram was released from Morgan County Correctional Complex on Friday , according Tennessee Department of Correction records .
Former Republican Gov .
Bill Haslam commuted his sentence last January in one of his final official duties , saying the inmate had “ undergone a transformation ” behind bars .
Gina Sanjines , the intended target of the plot , was shot and partially blinded by Ingram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was killed .
She doubts Ingram has changed and fears she ’ ll run into him again .
She said she has no assurances otherwise .
All she can do now is pray what Haslam saw in Ingram proves true , she said .
“ This is a person who did not know me , did not know the man he killed , ” Sanjines said Thursday .
“ And prior to him running me down in my home and shooting me in the head , I wouldn ’ t have been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ingram leaves prison at a time when the country is largely looking to reform its reliance on locking up offenders .
Commutations , meanwhile , have drawn new scrutiny after Republican Gov .
Matt Bevin in Kentucky issued hundreds of pardons between his defeat in November and his final day in office last month , drawing waves of bipartisan criticism .
Ingram was 18 when he was paid $ 10,000 by Gina Sanjines ’ ex-husband to kill her in the Chattanooga area , court documents say .
Sanjines was shot in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent blindness in her left eye , among other lifelong ailments .
Ingram fatally shot her boyfriend , Virgil Schrag , who prosecutors say wasn ’ t expected to be in the house when Ingram went to kill Sanjines .
Haslam ’ s office said Ingram , now 44 , has undergone a transformation and will have additional supervision conditions , including work , education and community service requirements .
The former governor cited Ingram ’ s four higher-education degrees and his participation in rehabilitation and faith-based programs .
“ Mr .
Ingram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his exceptional growth over the last 25 years has prepared him to be a positive contributor to society , ” Haslam wrote in his commutation .
Ingram received a sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 25 years .
He has been in prison since 1994 .
The month before Haslam granted Ingram ’ s reprieve , the state Board of Parole denied Ingram ’ s plea for mercy during an initial parole hearing due to the “ seriousness of the offence , ” said board spokeswoman Melissa McDonald .
Ingram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t strong enough to withstand the “ evil influence and manipulation ” of Sanjines ’ ex-husband , Jorge Ariel Sanjines , who was sentenced to life in prison .
The clemency filing also says Ingram “ takes full responsibility for his crime and is repentant.
” Ingram has said he plans to live in Knoxville with a family that belongs to the same church , and has job opportunities in mind .
Sanjines said Ingram still has family in the Chattanooga area , where she lives .
If it “ becomes necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move , though it ’ s not what she wants to do .
She said Ingram also has never reached out to apologize .
“ The view from my window is completely different from that of the former governor , ” Sanjines said .


thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Trump targets Michelle Obama’s school nutrition guidelines on her birthday

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration moved on Friday to roll back school nutrition standards championed by Michelle Obama , an effort long sought by food manufacturers and some school districts that have chafed at the cost of Obama ’ s prescriptions for fresh fruit and vegetables .
The proposed rule by the Agriculture Department , coming on Michelle Obama ’ s birthday , would give schools more latitude to decide how much fruit to offer during breakfast and which types of vegetables to provide .
It would also broaden what counts as a snack .
The rule was applauded by food companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foods like potatoes would replace green vegetables and fattening food like hamburgers would become staples of school “ snacks.
” “ Schools and school districts continue to tell us that there is still too much food waste and that more common-sense flexibility is needed to provide students nutritious and appetizing meals , ” Sonny Perdue , the agriculture secretary , said in a statement .
The Agriculture Department said the changes reflected requests made over the past two years by those who serve meals to children and teenagers throughout the school year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ second attempt to roll back nutrition standards promoted by Obama through the 2010 Healthy , Hunger-Free Kids Act , which required schools to serve children fruits and vegetables every day and to offer more whole-grain foods and fat-free or low-fat milk .
It also required school meal providers to limit calories and reduce saturated fat , trans fat and sodium .
The department finalized a rule in December 2018 that gave school meal providers permission to serve flavoured low-fat milk in the national school lunch program and school breakfast program .
That rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grains must be whole grain , and it gave providers more time to reduce sodium in meals .
Friday ’ s proposal goes further .
It allows schools to adjust fruit servings during breakfast , to reduce waste , it said , and to make room for “ meats and meat alternates.
” The new rule would also relax current vegetable requirements .
The proposal would also allow schools to offer lunch entrees for à la carte purchase , in order to reduce waste .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-17--National Park Service, Tribe investigating site desecration

NEWHALEM , Wash. - The National Park Service is investigating the desecration of an archaeological site in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex , and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe is hoping to bring those responsible to justice .
The Skagit Valley Herald reports evidence of digging was found over the summer at the Newhalem Rock Shelter camp used by the ancestors of the Upper Skagit tribe .
“ We were shocked and dismayed that someone would do something like this at a cultural site , ” the tribe ’ s Natural Resources Director Scott Schuyler said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old , and the fact that someone would want to come in and purposely destroy , damage or steal , it ’ s just unbelievable.
” North Cascades National Park Service Complex Chief Ranger Brandon Torres said that according to park records the shelter was discovered in 1989 .
After that a short trail and a viewing platform were built so visitors could look and learn from a safe distance .
The tribe supports this type of visitation , and Schuyler said tribal members helped with interpretive signs about the tribes ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
The tribe is working with the Park Service on the investigation and offering a $ 5,000 reward for information that leads to those responsible .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Iran’s leader attacks ‘American clowns’ and their ‘poisoned dagger’

TEHRAN , Iran - Iran ’ s supreme leader lashed out at Western countries as he led Friday prayers in Tehran for the first time in eight years , dismissing “ American clowns ” who he said pretend to support the Iranian nation but want to stick their “ poisoned dagger ” into its back .
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei used his rare appearance at the weekly prayers to deliver a fiery address in which he insisted Iran would not bow to U.S. pressure after months of crushing sanctions and a series of recent crises — from the American killing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane .
Khamenei said the mass funerals for Gen. Qassem Soleimani , who was killed in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month , show that the Iranian people support the Islamic Republic despite its recent trials .
He said the “ cowardly ” hit on Soleimani had taken out the most effective commander in the battle against the Islamic State group .
In response to Soleimani ’ s killing , Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting U.S. troops in Iraq , without causing serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ blow to America ’ s image ” as a superpower .
In the part of his sermon delivered in Arabic , he said the “ real punishment ” would be in forcing the U.S. to withdraw from the Middle East .
U.S. President Donald Trump later tweeted a sharp response to Khamenei : “ The so-called ‘ Supreme Leader ’ of Iran , who has not been so Supreme lately , had some nasty things to say about the United States and Europe .
Their economy is crashing , and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very careful with his words !
“ After the missile strike on Soleimani , as Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guard braced for an American counterattack that never came , it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian jetliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran ’ s international airport , killing all 176 passengers on board , mostly Iranians .
Authorities concealed their role in the tragedy for three days , initially blaming the crash on a technical problem .
When it came , their admission of responsibility triggered days of street protests , which security forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Khamenei called the shootdown of the plane a “ bitter accident ” that he said had saddened Iran as much as it made its enemies happy .
He said Iran ’ s enemies had seized on the crash to question the Islamic Republic , the Revolutionary Guard and the armed forces .
Ukraine ’ s foreign minister , Vadym Prystaiko , said Friday that his country wants Iran to issue a formal document admitting its guilt .
Ukraine , Canada and other nations whose citizens died in the crash have demanded Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The German airline Lufthansa , meanwhile , said its flights would continue to avoid Iranian airspace through March 28 , citing the “ continued unclear security situation.
” Khamenei also lashed out at Britain , France and Germany after they triggered a dispute mechanism to try and bring Iran back into compliance with the unraveling 2015 nuclear agreement .
Iran began openly breaching certain limits under the agreement last summer , more than a year after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal and began imposing sanctions .
After the killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer bound by the nuclear deal .
“ These contemptible governments are waiting to bring the Iranian nation to its knees , ” Khamenei said .
“ America , who is your elder , your leader and your master , was not able to bring the Iranian nation to its knees .
You are too small to bring the Iranian nation to its knees.
” Khamenei has held the country ’ s top office since 1989 and has the final say on all major decisions .
The 80-year-old leader openly wept at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harsh retaliation ” against the United States .
Thousands of people attended the Friday prayers , occasionally interrupting his speech by chanting “ God is greatest !
” and “ Death to America !
” Tensions between Iran and the United States have steadily escalated since Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord , which had imposed restrictions on Iran ’ s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions .
The U.S. has since imposed crippling sanctions on Iran , including its vital oil and gas industry , pushing the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several waves of sporadic , leaderless protests .
Trump has openly encouraged the protesters — even tweeting in Farsi — hoping that the protests and the sanctions will bring about fundamental change in a longtime adversary .
Khamenei mocked those efforts , dismissing “ these American clowns who falsely and despicably say that they are standing with the Iranian people.
” He did not refer to Trump by name , but was clearly referring to him and his administration .
“ You are lying , ” he said .
“ If you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because you want to stick your poisoned dagger into the back of the Iranian nation .
Of course you haven ’ t been able to do that so far , and you won ’ t be able to do a damn thing.
” Khamenei was always skeptical of the nuclear agreement , arguing that the United States could not be trusted .
But he allowed President Hassan Rouhani , a relative moderate , to conclude the agreement with President Barack Obama .
Since Trump ’ s withdrawal , he has repeatedly said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Khamenei last delivered a Friday sermon in February 2012 , when he called Israel a “ cancerous tumour ” and vowed to support anyone confronting it .
He also warned against any U.S. strikes on Iran over its nuclear program , saying the U.S. would be damaged “ 10 times over.
” Krauss reported from Dubai , United Arab Emirates .
Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed .

Amir Vahdat And Joseph Krauss - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Turkey’s Erdogan: Europe must back Libyan govt in Tripoli

ANKARA , Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the European Union to support the internationally recognised Libyan government in Tripoli ahead of a summit in Berlin .
In an article published on the Politico website Saturday , Erdogan said European leaders “ ought to talk a little less and focus on taking concrete steps ” in the conflict-torn North African nation .
Erdogan will join leaders from Russia , the West and Arab countries , as well as the heads of the opposing Libyan factions , in the German capital on Sunday in a bid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libyan capital of Tripoli .
A truce sponsored by Turkey and Russia was imposed a week ago , although there have been reports of continued fighting .
Turkey supports the U.N.-backed administration in Tripoli led by Fayez Sarraj and sent troops to Libya earlier this month to help them in their battle with eastern-based forces led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter .
In the article , Erdogan labeled Hifter a “ warlord ” and “ coup plotter.
” He said a failure to support Sarraj would be a betrayal of the E.U.
’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportions.
” If the Tripoli government were to fall , Libya would become a “ fertile ground ” for the re-emergence of extremists like the Islamic State group and al-Qaida , Erdogan said .
Further instability would also fuel more migration from Libya towards Europe across the Mediterranean Sea .
“ The Libyan civil war serves as a litmus test for the E.U.
, ” he said .
“ Will European leaders uphold the liberal world order in the face of yet another attack ?
Or will they abdicate their responsibilities , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis unfold from the sidelines ?
” Germany is bringing together key players in Libya ’ s long-running conflict in a bid to curb foreign military meddling , solidify the cease-fire and help relaunch a political process to determine Libya ’ s future .
Serraj ’ s government is backed by Turkey , Qatar and Italy while Hifter is supported by Egypt , the United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia and France .
Russian military contractors have been fighting alongside Hifter ’ s forces , although Moscow retains links to both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey and the Libyan government in Tripoli signed a controversial maritime deal on delineating a boundary between the two countries in the Mediterranean .
The agreement would give Turkey and Libya access to an economic zone despite the objections of Greece , Egypt and Cyprus , which lie between the two geographically .
Erdogan called on Europe to work with Turkey as it trains Libyan forces to combat terrorism , human trafficking and other threats to international security .
“ Europe finds itself at a crossroads , ” he said .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for peace must be courageous and do everything in their power to end violence .
“ Europe can count on Turkey — an old friend and ally — to achieve that goal .
”


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Ohio State doctor abuse investigation, suits have cost $9.8M

COLUMBUS , Ohio - The investigation and related lawsuits about alleged sexual abuse decades ago by an Ohio State University team doctor have cost nearly $ 10 million so far , according to the school .
The total was about $ 9.8 million as of December , school spokesman Benjamin Johnson said by email .
That figure is likely to grow as federal lawsuits against the university over its handling of the late Dr. Richard Strauss remain in mediation .
About 350 men have sued Ohio State , alleging athletics and student health officials failed to stop the doctor despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades there .
Many of the men say they were fondled during medical exams .
The law firm that investigated the allegations for the school concluded last year that the doctor abused athletes and other young men between 1979 and 1997 in his work at campus athletic facilities , the student health centre and his off-campus men ’ s clinic , and even at his home .
The school said it has learned of about 1,500 or more alleged instances of sexual misconduct by Strauss during that era .
The university has acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and investigate the abuse .
It has publicly apologized to anyone mistreated by Strauss and said it is committed to a “ monetary resolution “ in the matter .
Strauss died in 2005 .
No one has publicly defended him since ex-athletes and other alumni began stepping forward with their allegations nearly two years ago .
The allegations have prompted the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights to review whether the university responded “ promptly and equitably ” to students ’ complaints .
The State Medical Board of Ohio is investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Strauss during his tenure .
After learning that credible evidence of misconduct by Strauss was ignored in a 1996 board investigation that was inexplicably closed , the board also has begun reviewing about 2,000 more old cases of alleged sexual misconduct or impropriety by doctors to check whether those were properly closed .
Follow Franko on Twitter at http : //www.twitter.com/kantele10 .
See AP ’ s coverage about the allegations here : https : //apnews.com/OhioStateTeamDoctor .


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Thai military holds ceremony to swear allegiance to king

BANGKOK - Thailand ’ s king presided over an oath-taking ceremony Saturday at an army base where almost 7,000 soldiers and police paraded to mark Armed Forces Day .
King Maha Vajiralongkorn ’ s presence at the ceremony was unusual , as Thai monarchs have rarely , if ever , attended the occasion , even though the royal palace and the military are closely linked .
Queen Suthida and the king ’ s oldest daughter , Princess Bajrakitiyabha , also attended .
The government announced that the ceremony was not only to mark Armed Forces Day , but also to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which took place last year .
“ I pledge my life to honour and sustain the greatness of the king .
I pledge my loyalty to Your Majesty and will serve and guard Your Majesty till the end of my life , ” the chief of defence forces , Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri , said as he led the oath-taking ceremony at the Adisorn Military Camp in the central province of Saraburi .
Vajiralongkorn gave his thanks for their oath of allegiance and said he hoped they would all keep their promise to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people .
The monarchy and the military are the two most powerful institutions in Thailand , and exercise major influence over the country ’ s fragile democracy , evidenced most recently by coups the army staged in 2006 and 2014 .
The military has declared protection of the monarchy to be its priority , stressing the point as the nation has undergone political upheavals in the past decade and a half that have shaken the almost total reverence for the monarchy obtained under Vajiralongkorn ’ s father , King Bhumibol Adulyadej , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong military background .
His education includes military training at the Australian army ’ s officer training establishmen , the Royal Military College at Duntroon , a suburb of the capital , Canberra .
He took part on combat operations against communist guerrillas in the 1970s , and also has received training in special forces demolition and unconventional warfare tactics .
He has concentrated his military service in the air force , and is qualified both as a plane and helicopter pilot .
Vajiralongkorn has exercised his influence as king to consolidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respects .
In October last year , he ordered some key army units to be put under his direct command , and has also assumed greater personal ownership and direction of the royal finances , estimated to exceed $ 40 billion , as well as had several plots of prime real estate in the capital , Bangkok , revert to the palace ’ s direct control .


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Philippine volcano simmers, officials brace for long crisis

AGONCILLO , Philippines - Philippine officials said Saturday they ’ re bracing for a long crisis whether the Taal volcano erupts more disastrously or simmers precariously for weeks or months , as massive numbers of displaced villagers languish in emergency shelters .
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said more than 900 villagers who fell ill have been treated , mostly for exposure to volcanic ash , in evacuation sites since the volcano began erupting in Batangas province near Manila , the capital , last weekend .
About 125,000 people fled from ash-blanketed villages and crammed into hundreds of emergency centres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelter in relatives ’ homes , disaster-response officials said , appealing for masks , bottled water , portable toilets , food and sleeping mats .
“ It ’ s really massive because you ’ re talking of more or less 100,000 evacuees in evacuation centres , so the infrastructure and services needed are really huge , ” Duque said .
“ This is not going to be for the short term , but for the medium if not long term.
” After belching a massive plume of ash and steam more than 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sky when it rumbled back to life last Sunday , Taal has been spewing smaller emissions and shuddering with fewer earthquakes in recent days .
But despite a perceived waning of its restiveness , continuing volcanic quakes , the drying of Taal ’ s crater lake and other signs indicate magma is moving beneath , said Renato Solidum , who heads the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology .
“ We have this perception now that it ’ s waning versus underground sub-surface activity , which indicates otherwise , ” Solidum said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ have not seen a definite trend that it ’ s weakening.
” The 311-meter ( 1,020-foot ) -high Taal is one of the world ’ s smallest but the second-most restive of about two dozen active Philippine volcanoes .
It has remained at alert level 4 , the second-highest warning , indicating a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours or days .
Duque said hundreds of villagers have been treated for respiratory infections , hypertension , diarrhea , skin lesions , flu and coughs in evacuation centres .
About 300,000 masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the volcanic eruption , have been sent to calamity-hit areas .
The government ’ s main disaster-response agency will hold a meeting next week to discuss concerns , including hygiene in evacuation camps , Duque said .
He has sought the help of the military to build latrines and repair toilets in emergency shelters , mostly school buildings .
In the hard-hit town of Agoncillo , Mayor Daniel Reyes said all 42,000 residents abandoned their homes , including 8,000 who are now encamped in evacuation centres and need food , water and aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes without bringing anything , so they will really be dependent on our help , ” Reyes said .
Agoncillo still has about two weeks worth of food , water and aid packs and will need help from the provincial and national governments when supplies get depleted , he said .
While tending to the thousands of displaced residents , Reyes said he and other officials were preparing contingency plans in case Taal erupts violently .
“ There is a great possibility that it will erupt , ” Reyes said , citing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philippines lies along the Pacific “ Ring of Fire , ” a string of faults around the ocean basin where many of the world ’ s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur .
Gomez reported from Manila .
Associated Press videojournalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report .

Aaron Favila And Jim Gomez - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Australia firefighters save world’s only rare dinosaur trees

CANBERRA , Australia - Specialist firefighters have saved the world ’ s last remaining wild stand of a prehistoric tree from wildfires that razed forests west of Sydney , officials said Thursday .
Firefighters winched from helicopters to reach the cluster of fewer than 200 Wollemi Pines in a remote gorge in the Blue Mountains a week before a massive wildlife bore down , National Parks and Wildlife Service Director David Crust said .
The firefighters set up an irrigation system to keep the so-called dinosaur trees moist and pumped water daily from the gorge as the blaze that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two month edged closer .
Firefighting planes strategically bombed the fire front with fire retardant to slow its progress .
“ That helped just to slow the intensity of the fire as it approached the site , ” Crust told Australian Broadcasting Corp. “ The Wollemi Pine is a particularly important species and the fact that this is the only place in the world where they exist and they exist in such small numbers is really significant , ” he added .
New South Wales state Environment Minister Matt Kean said the operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants had been singed .
“ These pines outlived the dinosaurs , so when we saw the fire approaching we realized we had to do everything we could to save them , ” Kean said .
The Wollemi Pine had only been seen in its fossilized form and was thought long extinct before the stand was found in 1994 .
The fire that threatened it was brought under control this week after razing more than 510,000 hectares ( 1.26 million acres ) .
The fire also destroyed 90 % of the 5,000-square-kilometre ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rare trees grow , Crust said .
The exact location of the stand remains a closely guarded secret to help authorities protect the trees .
The Wollemi ’ s survival is one of the few positive stories to emerge from the unprecedented wildlife crisis in southeast Australia .
The fires have claimed at least 28 lives since September , destroyed more than 2,600 homes and razed more than 10.3 million hectares ( 25.5 million acres ) , mostly in New South Wales state .
The area burned is larger than the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger has been diminished by rain this week in several areas .
The first green buds of regrowth have already emerged in some blacked forests following rain .
This story was first published on Jan. 17 , 2020 .
It was updated on Jan. 18 , 2020 , to correct the size of Wollemi National Park .
It is 5,000 square kilometres ( 1,930 square miles ) , not 5,000 hectares ( 12,400 acres ) .


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Correction: Australia-Dinosaur Trees story

CANBERRA , Australia - Specialist firefighters have saved the world ’ s last remaining wild stand of a prehistoric tree from wildfires that razed forests west of Sydney , officials said Thursday .
Firefighters winched from helicopters to reach the cluster of fewer than 200 Wollemi Pines in a remote gorge in the Blue Mountains a week before a massive wildlife bore down , National Parks and Wildlife Service Director David Crust said .
The firefighters set up an irrigation system to keep the so-called dinosaur trees moist and pumped water daily from the gorge as the blaze that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two month edged closer .
Firefighting planes strategically bombed the fire front with fire retardant to slow its progress .
“ That helped just to slow the intensity of the fire as it approached the site , ” Crust told Australian Broadcasting Corp. “ The Wollemi Pine is a particularly important species and the fact that this is the only place in the world where they exist and they exist in such small numbers is really significant , ” he added .
New South Wales state Environment Minister Matt Kean said the operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants had been singed .
“ These pines outlived the dinosaurs , so when we saw the fire approaching we realized we had to do everything we could to save them , ” Kean said .
The Wollemi Pine had only been seen in its fossilized form and was thought long extinct before the stand was found in 1994 .
The fire that threatened it was brought under control this week after razing more than 510,000 hectares ( 1.26 million acres ) .
The fire also destroyed 90 % of the 5,000-hectare ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rare trees grow , Crust said .
The exact location of the stand remains a closely guarded secret to help authorities protect the trees .
The Wollemi ’ s survival is one of the few positive stories to emerge from the unprecedented wildlife crisis in southeast Australia .
The fires have claimed at least 28 lives since September , destroyed more than 2,600 homes and razed more than 10.3 million hectares ( 25.5 million acres ) , mostly in New South Wales state .
The area burned is larger than the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger has been diminished by rain this week in several areas .
The first green buds of regrowth have already emerged in some blacked forests following rain .


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Sri Lanka lifts ban on drones imposed after Easter attacks

COLOMBO , Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan authorities have lifted a ban on drones that was imposed after the Easter Sunday attacks that left 263 people dead in the Indian Ocean island nation .
The lifting of the ban comes amid a growing demand for flying drones from media institutions , foreigners , wedding videographers and photographers , and commercial advertising companies .
However , drone operations will continue to be restricted in dangerous and restricted flying zones .
All civil drone operators will be required to obtain approval from the Defence Ministry to fly drones , the ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the ban was lifted on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa .
Authorities imposed the ban last May , citing security concerns a month after seven suicide bombers from a local Muslim group , National Thowheed Jammath , blew themselves up at three churches and three luxury hotels in the deadliest violence by Islamic State group-linked militants in South Asia .
The attacks wounded about 500 people .
Sri Lankan leaders and the security establishment have been under fire for not acting ahead of the attacks on near-specific intelligence information on possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged that some intelligence units were aware of possible attacks weeks before the bombings .
Following the attacks , national police chief Pujith Jayasundara was suspended and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigned .
Both were later arrested and are being detained after the presidential commission found grounds to charge them with dereliction of duties and criminal negligence .
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Bharatha Mallawarachi - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--China reports 4 more cases in viral pneumonia outbreak

BEIJING - Four more cases have been identified in a viral pneumonia outbreak in a central Chinese city that has killed two people and prompted the United States and others to take precautionary measures .
The latest cases brings to 45 the number of people who have contracted the illness , the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said Saturday .
Five are in serious condition .
The cause of the pneumonia has been traced to a new type of coronavirus .
Health authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of SARS , or severe acute respiratory syndrome , which started in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more than two dozen countries , killing nearly 800 people .
The U.S. announced Friday it would begin screening passengers at three major airports arriving on flights from Wuhan .
At least a half-dozen countries in Asia also have started screening incoming airline passengers from central China .
The list includes Thailand and Japan , which both have reported cases of the disease in people who had come from Wuhan .
Travel is unusually heavy right now as people take trips to and from China to celebrate the Lunar New Year .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-18--4 SKoreans, 3 Nepal guides missing in avalanche; 30 rescued

KATHMANDU , Nepal - An avalanche swept a popular trekking route in Nepal ’ s mountains , leaving at least four South Koreans and three Nepali guides missing , authorities said Saturday .
Nepal ’ s Department of Tourism official Meera Acharya said at least one Chinese national injured in the avalanche was rescued by helicopter .
The avalanche hit along the popular Annapurna circuit trekking route , which encircles Mount Annapurna .
Acharya said efforts were being made to rescue the others .
So far , rescuers have been able to pluck 30 trekkers who were trapped by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a safe area .
Weather conditions were poor with temperature dropping in the last two days , making the operation more difficult .
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the avalanche hit at an altitude of 3,230 metres ( 10,600 feet ) before noon Friday .
It said five other South Korean members of the same team were safe and taking shelter in a lodge .
The missing trekkers - two women in their 30s and 50s and two men in their 50s - were teachers who were staying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , according to the Yonhap news agency .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-18--SUV on grounds of Beijing’s Forbidden City sparks outrage

BEIJING - A Chinese woman sparked social media outrage in her country by posting photos of herself and a friend with a Mercedes-Benz on the grounds of Beijing ’ s Forbidden City .
The reaction prompted an apology from the management of China ’ s 600-year-old former imperial palace .
Vehicles have been banned since 2013 to protect the cultural dignity of the vast site and its hundreds of historic buildings , according to the official Xinhua News Agency .
The palace was home to the Qing and Ming emperors , who ruled China for nearly five centuries .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sincerely apologizes to the public , “ it said in a post Friday night on Weibo , a popular service similar to Twitter .
It added that it would prevent a repetition of the incident “ through strict management.
” The four photos played into public perceptions that people with connections have special privileges in China , though it wasn ’ t clear if the unidentified woman was from an influential family .
The shots showed two young women in sunglasses and a black Mercedes SUV in front of the towering Gate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The woman said in another post that she and her friend had enjoyed the palace without the usual crowds on a Monday , when it is closed , the state-owned Global Times newspaper reported .
The posts have been deleted , and she did not respond to a message sent to her Weibo account .
A man identified as the owner of the vehicle told the Beijing News that the woman is a friend who had been invited to an event at the palace , and that some guests had been allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper included audio clips of the interview in an online video post .
The issue went viral on Friday .
One Weibo user said that the rich and powerful can do whatever they want in China .
Some questioned why the woman had privileges not accorded to visiting heads of state , who must get out of their vehicles and walk into the palace , the Global Times said .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-18--4 killed, 1 injured in family shooting in Utah suburb

GRANTSVILLE , Utah - Four members of a family were killed and one injured in a shooting Friday night in a Salt Lake City suburb , local media report .
The suspected shooter was taken into custody by Grantsville police , the Deseret News reported .
Grantsville Mayor Brent Marshall said the victims and the shooter are all related , the newspaper reported .
“ It ’ s an unfortunate tragedy that has taken place here this evening , ” Marshall said .
“ And I ’ m sure it will take days or even longer to try and piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why it happened , if we ever get to know why it happened .
It ’ s upsetting .
This is normally a very quiet neighbourhood , and any time you have children involved in something , it becomes very emotional , very fast.
“ Lt. Robert Sager told FOX 13 TV that the department is treating the deaths as homicides .
Police didn ’ t release the names of the victims or the suspected shooter , who was arrested shortly after police arrived at the home just after 7 p.m. Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital , police said .
Marshall and Tooele County Sheriff Paul Wimmer were on scene as police tried to piece together what happened in home .
Cpl .
Rhonda Fields told the Deseret News that multiple agencies responded after neighbours heard gunshots .
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thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Who’s who on Trump’s legal team for impeachment trial

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump ’ s legal advocates for his Senate impeachment trial will include a pair of well-known attorneys who have vigorously defended Trump on television and played roles in some of the most consequential legal dramas in recent history .
Among those assisting White House counsel Pat Cipollone and longtime Trump attorney Jay Sekulow on the defence will be Ken Starr , the independent counsel who investigated former President Bill Clinton .
Former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz also will play a role .
A look at who ’ s who : The current White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private figure who built a career around complex litigation .
While he doesn ’ t have extensive trial experience , he has worked on numerous high-profile cases , including the lawsuit against credit reporting company Equifax after a massive data breach .
He also defended the University of Virginia student who claimed she was the victim of a gang rape at a fraternity house and was featured in a 2014 Rolling Stone article that was later retracted .
In the White House , he has forcefully defended Trump ’ s right to executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no right to question White House staffers about their conversations with the president .
Well known in conservative circles , Sekulow is one of the president ’ s personal lawyers , having represented him during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
The host of a radio and TV talk show , Sekulow has extensive media experience .
He has argued before the Supreme Court on at least a dozen occasions , including landmark cases on religious liberty .
As chief counsel at the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also represented Trump in his fight to prevent the release of his tax returns .
A constitutional law expert and former Harvard professor , Dershowitz was part of O.J .
Simpson ’ s legal “ dream team.
“ He voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 but has nonetheless been a vocal public defender of Trump , writing a book titled “ The Case Against Impeaching Trump.
” Dershowitz said he will present oral arguments outlining the constitutional arguments against Trump ’ s impeachment to “ defend the integrity of the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous constitutional precedent.
” He said he would not be a full-fledged member of the Trump legal team .
Dershowitz has defended a number of controversial clients including Jeffrey Epstein , the multimillionaire who killed himself in jail last summer while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually abused multiple underage girls .
One of Epstein ’ s accusers has also accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse .
Dershowitz has vehemently denied the accusation .
Best known for his 1990s role as the independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton , Starr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Clinton ’ s extramarital relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky .
That led to Clinton ’ s impeachment over 20 years ago .
A former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge , Starr has been a regular guest on Fox News , defending Trump on his favoured network .
But he and Trump haven ’ t always been on the same page .
“ I think that Ken Starr is a lunatic .
I really think that Ken Starr is a disaster , ” Trump said in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1999 .
Starr was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university ’ s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players .
Starr was also involved in the representation of Epstein .
A former federal prosecutor , Ray took over the Office of the Independent Counsel after Starr and is known for the lengthy report he wrote on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair .
He now focuses on white-collar criminal defence matters and has appeared frequently on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The former attorney general of Florida and a longtime Trump supporter , Bondi joined the White House communications team late last year on a temporary basis to help shape the administration ’ s defence strategy .
After stepping down from her Florida position in January , she worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners , representing clients including General Motors , the commissioner of Major League Baseball and a Christian anti-human-trafficking advocacy group .
She also registered as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar and as a lobbyist for a Kuwaiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent filings and congressional lobbying documents .
The former federal attorney handled organized crime and racketeering cases and now has a legal practice with her husband in Florida .
In the 1980s , she was a trial attorney with the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section ’ s Boston Strike Force , and her cases included the nine-month trial and conviction of the underboss of the New England Mafia .
She also served as counsel to the assistant attorney general of the Justice Department ’ s Criminal Division in Washington and as first assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She and her husband , Martin Raskin , later formed a law firm based in Coral Gables , Florida .
The two worked with Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani during the Mueller investigation .
He is a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP , a law firm that has represented Trump in numerous cases over the last 15 years .
Herschmann served various roles at the Southern Union Company , a natural gas utility , including as senior executive vice-president , president and chief operating officer .
According to his law firm ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sale of the company in 2012 for more than $ 10 billion .
He also previously worked as a senior litigation counsel and as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney ’ s Office .

Jill Colvin And Deb Riechmann - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--How Trump’s impeachment differs from a criminal trial

WASHINGTON - Yes , it ’ s a trial — but the Senate ’ s impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump won ’ t resemble anything Americans have seen on Court TV .
In Trump ’ s trial , the Senate will serve as both judge and jury .
The Republicans who control the chamber can forge their own rules if they have enough votes .
And the presiding judge is the top one in America , yet can be decisively overruled .
A look at some of the key differences between a courtroom trial and the impeachment trial that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : COURTROOM TRIAL : Federal trials , both civil and criminal , are presided over by District Court judges who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate .
They rule on questions of evidence , motions to dismiss a case or to exclude certain testimony , and all other disputes that emerge both before and during the trial .
SENATE TRIAL : None other than John Roberts , the chief justice of the United States , will preside over this case .
He made the short trip Thursday from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sworn in .
Exactly what role he ’ ll play is unclear , though it may be a modest one in keeping with his insistence that judges aren ’ t meant to be politicians .
And even if Roberts were to make a ruling from the chair , 51 senators can vote to overrule him .
COURTROOM TRIAL : It ’ s a bedrock principle of American jurisprudence , and enshrined in the Constitution , that defendants have the right to have their fate decided by a jury of their peers — ordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant to lack personal connections to the parties , or other biases or motives that could sway their judgment .
They ’ re questioned in advance on their ability to evaluate the evidence fairly and impartially .
SENATE TRIAL : The jury pool here is already preordained under the Constitution and neither side gets any say in who gets to hear the case .
The 100 senators who make up the chamber will decide the case , invariably bringing their own partisan leanings toward one side or the other .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or biases at the door — nor will they .
They ’ re also not impassive observers , carrying the power on a majority vote to approve rules or even dismiss the charges .
COURTROOM TRIAL : The attorneys for both sides get to call the witnesses they think will bolster their side of the case .
The lawyers themselves handle the direct questioning and cross-examination , though judges may also ask clarifying questions .
Jurors are not invited to interrupt the proceedings with their own questions , nor do they get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TRIAL : The senators themselves , in their roles as jurors , will have the opportunity to submit questions in writing .
Under the rules , senators can even be called as witnesses in the trial .
And it ’ s not even automatic that there will be witnesses : It requires 51 votes for witnesses to be called .
COURTROOM TRIAL : Federal criminal cases are tried by prosecutors who work for the Justice Department , their names generally unfamiliar to the American public .
In state and local proceedings , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys .
They don ’ t align themselves with particular political parties or affiliations .
SENATE TRIAL : The prosecutors here aren ’ t prosecutors in the traditional sense .
They ’ re actually seven Democratic members of Congress , all selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and given the title of “ manager.
“ Some of the seven are familiar faces from their time leading congressional investigations into Trump , including Rep. Adam Schiff of California and Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York .
COURTROOM TRIAL : To declare a defendant guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state or federal level , a jury must be unanimous in its decision — no exceptions .
If a jury can ’ t reach a verdict after a prolonged period of deliberations , then a judge can declare it as deadlocked and dismiss it from duty .
SENATE TRIAL : No such unanimity is required here .
It would take a two-thirds majority of senators , 67 if all 100 are voting , to convict the president .
Since Republicans make up the majority of the Senate , a conviction is seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on either of the two articles against him , he would automatically be removed from office .


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Anti-Trump protests have shrunk. What’s it mean for 2020?

CHICAGO - Days after President Donald Trump killed an Iranian general and said he was sending more soldiers to the Middle East , about 100 protesters stood on a pedestrian bridge over Chicago ’ s Lake Shore Drive with an illuminated sign that read “ No War in Iran.
” Some 200 people marched in the bitter cold near Boston , while a few dozen people demonstrated on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall and at similarly sized gatherings across the U.S. Three years after Trump took office and millions of people swarmed to the Women ’ s March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , these typically modest protests are often the most visible sign of today ’ s Trump resistance .
Activists say the numbers should not be mistaken for a lack of energy or motivation to vote Trump out of office come November .
The anti-Trump movement of 2020 , they say , is more organized and more focused on action .
Many people have moved from protesting to knocking on doors for candidates , mailing postcards to voters , advocating for specific causes or running for office .
But the movement that sprung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also is more splintered than it was when pink-hatted protesters flooded Washington the day after his inauguration for what is generally regarded as the largest protest in the city since the Vietnam era .
There have been schisms over which presidential candidates to back in 2020 , as well as disagreements about race and religion and about whether the march reflected the diversity of the movement .
Those divisions linger even as many on the left say they need a united front heading into November ’ s election .
The disputes led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , the resignation of some national Women ’ s March leaders and the disbanding of a group in Washington state .
Organizers expect about 100,000 people across the country to participate in this year ’ s Women ’ s March , which is scheduled for Saturday in over 180 cities .
They say up to 10,000 people are expected at the march in Washington , far fewer than the turnout last year , when about 100,000 people held a rally east of the White House .
Instead of a single big event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a run-up to the march this week around three key issues : climate change , immigration and reproductive rights .
The week reflects that the movement is “ moving into the next stage , ” said director Caitlin Breedlove .
Leaders of MoveOn.org , which organized some of the anti-Iran war protests , agreed .
Mobilization manager Kate Alexander said the group and its members pulled together over 370 protests in 46 states in less than 48 hours to show resistance to Trump ’ s actions .
The president ordered airstrikes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iran ’ s Quds Force who has been blamed for deadly attacks on U.S. troops and allies going back decades .
Iran pledged retribution , sparking fears of an all-out war .
Alexander noted that the Iran protest is just one of many issues MoveOn members have organized in response to in the past few years .
“ It ’ s not that there are fewer people mobilizing — it ’ s that they ’ re mobilized in different campaigns .
There ’ s more to do , ” Alexander said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are tuning out .
I think people are lying in wait.
” While waiting , many have passed on some major moments in Trump ’ s presidency .
Resistance groups rallied on the eve of the House vote for impeachment , but even some of those who participated said they were disappointed more people didn ’ t turn out .
Several organizations also said much of their organizing is done through social media or text message and email programs , which are less visible but have a significant impact .
In 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 billion social media impressions , Breedlove said .
Atef Said , a sociology professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago , said all social movements evolve over time .
He noted the Trump resistance movement is global and will continue regardless of whether Trump is reelected .
“ Movements always rise and decline in terms of numbers on the ground , “ he said .
Andy Koch , a 30-year-old nurse who lives in Chicago , has seen that ebb and flow firsthand .
Koch has been active in protesting Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
When Koch was a student at University of Illinois at Chicago , Trump ’ s campaign cancelled a 2016 speech at the campus following tense student protests .
Koch said the anti-Trump activism swelled when he first took office and again in early 2017 when he announced his first travel ban affecting people from several predominantly Muslim countries .
Roughly 1,000 people mobilized in Chicago immediately after Trump authorized the attack on the Iranian leader , and then the crowds subsided a few days later after the threat of war seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the nation Jan 8 .
That day , a few dozen — including Koch — showed up in 20-degree Fahrenheit ( minus 7 Celsius ) temperatures outside Trump International Hotel Chicago during rush hour .
Koch understands that masses of people won ’ t show up for every protest .
“ What allows those numbers to come out ... is continued organizing going on in between these events , ” he said .
He said there have been numerous smaller protests he ’ s been involved with , including protesting U.S. foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve taken other forms .
For instance , he ’ s helped plan a teach-in on Iranian foreign policy this week at UIC .
Maya Wells , a 21-year-old political science senior at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte , was a speaker at a rally last week in Charlotte .
Wells , who is Persian American and has family in Iran , said she doesn ’ t look at the numbers of people who turn out but rather at the fact that they took time out of their day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people coming .
Because some of my friends who are conservatives and voted for Trump , they ’ re against this , ” she said , adding that the most recent protest wasn ’ t the last .
“ There will be more days to come , ” Wells said .
“ I have no doubt in my mind.
” This story has been corrected to show Women ’ s March organizers expect about 10,000 people , not 100,000 people , to attend Saturday ’ s protest in Washington , D.C. Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sarah Blake Morgan in Charlotte , N.C. , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Amid hacking fears, key caucus states to use app for results

IOWA CITY , Iowa - Two of the first three states to vote in the Democratic presidential race will use new mobile apps to gather results from thousands of caucus sites — technology intended to make counting easier but that raises concerns of hacking or glitches .
Democratic Party activists in Iowa and Nevada will use programs downloaded to their personal phones to report the results of caucus gatherings to the state headquarters .
That data will then be used to announce the unofficial winners .
Paper records will later be used to certify the results .
The party is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that foreign hackers could target the 2020 presidential campaign to try to sow chaos and undermine American democracy .
Party officials say they are cognizant of the threat and taking numerous security precautions .
Any errors , they say , will be easily correctable because of backups .
“ We continue to work closely with security experts to test our systems and identify incidents , including disinformation monitoring , and we are confident in the security systems we have in place , ” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price .
The technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliable way of calculating and releasing results to the public than the complicated math and thousands of phone calls that the caucus system has long relied upon .
But the use of a new app by an unidentified developer , coupled with the high stakes of the contests , has concerned some observers .
They worry that unofficial results could be inaccurate if hackers or other problems taint the data .
That ’ s a problem even if the paper backups eventually provide an accurate tally .
“ Scary would be a darn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief technology officer of ProCircular , an Iowa company that has done vulnerability assessments for local elections officials .
“ If it ’ s secure , awesome .
But it opens up all kinds of questions.
“ Party officials in both states declined to identify the vendor that developed their apps , saying they did not want to create a potential target for hackers .
Microsoft developed an app that was used by both political parties in the 2016 Iowa caucuses and credited with helping obtain results from 95 % of precincts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Microsoft ’ s role was announced months beforehand , and the company discussed security measures .
Some critics say the party should again identify the developers , along with the certification and security testing they have gone through , to boost public confidence .
“ It would be really nice to know who developed it , how competent they are and what oversight they were subjected to , ” said Douglas Jones , a University of Iowa computer science professor and election security expert .
“ The caucus night reporting , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop out , which continue , who gets a boost from the caucus — all of that is definitely vulnerable to an attack on the app.
” Jones said hacking could take several forms .
Hackers could try to corrupt the app before it ’ s downloaded , activate malware that might be lurking on phones or target the server that houses the app .
Another concern : The app could crash amid heavy use as precincts report results .
He and others agreed that the official results of the Feb. 3 Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be accurate .
Each precinct keeps paper copies of the results and numerous participants at each site will know the precise outcome .
Because of hacking concerns , the Democratic National Committee scrapped the Iowa party ’ s plan to hold a virtual caucus in which those unable to attend in person could use smartphones to record their preferences .
Party officials said the risks posed by the reporting apps were much lower than with electronic voting .
The state parties worked with the technical team at the DNC to vet developers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the app .
The Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government conducted simulation and training exercises with Iowa officials that included scenarios in which there were problems with a mobile reporting app .
The training emphasized the importance of using authentication , secure networks to transmit data and encryption to guard against attacks .
“ I do think that we need to give the Iowa team a lot of credit for how seriously they looked at all these issues , ” said Eric Rosenbach , co-director of the Belfer Center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were co-ordinating with the Iowa party and the Department of Homeland Security “ to run efficient and secure caucuses.
” He said he is confident that state Democrats are “ taking the security of their caucuses extremely seriously from all perspectives.
” Party officials said they would not be sending the app to precinct chairs for downloading until just before the caucus — to narrow the window for any interference .
And while using the app is encouraged , precinct chairs still have the option of phoning in results .
Democrat Ruth Thompson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precinct , said she was not concerned about security risks related to the app .
“ The Russians don ’ t care what ’ s on my phone , ” she said .
“ I know we ’ ve got the app , but we have a paper backup .
If there is a hack or something , there is the opportunity to correct it.
” Hacking fears aren ’ t new .
In 2012 , a video purporting to be from the hacking collective Anonymous called on supporters to “ peacefully shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response , party leaders increased their security measures for the website where the results were posted .
Ultimately , it was old-fashioned data errors that tainted the results that year : The party chairman on caucus night declared Mitt Romney the winner by eight votes over Rick Santorum .
Two weeks later , Santorum was declared the winner by 34 votes when results were certified .
Cassidy reported from Atlanta .
Follow the reporters on Twitter : @ RJFoley and @ AP_Christina .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ground Game .
”

Ryan J. Foley And Christina A. Cassidy - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Source says Dershowitz, Starr to join Trump impeachment legal team

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has assembled a made-for-TV legal team for his Senate trial that includes household names like Ken Starr , the prosecutor whose investigation two decades ago resulted in the impeachment of Bill Clinton .
Former Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz said he will deliver constitutional arguments meant to shield Trump from allegations that he abused his power .
The additions Friday bring experience in the politics of impeachment as well as constitutional law to the team , which faced a busy weekend of deadlines for legal briefs before opening arguments begin Tuesday even as more evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys are already nationally known both for their involvement in some of the more consequential legal dramas of recent American history and for their regular appearances on Fox News , the president ’ s preferred television network .
Dershowitz is a constitutional expert whose expansive views of presidential powers echo those of Trump .
Starr is a veteran of partisan battles in Washington , having led the investigation into Clinton ’ s affair with a White House intern that brought about the president ’ s impeachment by the House .
Clinton was acquitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome Trump is expecting from the Republican-led chamber .
Still , the lead roles for Trump ’ s defence will be played by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , who also represented Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
Democrats released more documents late Friday from Lev Parnas , an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani , with photos , text and audio , as they make their case against the president over his actions toward Ukraine .
There are some signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside legal team and lawyers within the White House .
Some White House officials bristled that the announcement was not co-ordinated with them .
The White House waited until late Friday night to confirm the full roster of the president ’ s lawyers .
Hours after Dershowitz announced his involvement with the team in a series of tweets Friday , he played down his role by saying he would be present for only an hour or so to make constitutional arguments .
“ I ’ m not a full-fledged member of the defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dan Abrams Show “ on SiriusXM .
He has long been a critic of “ the overuse of impeachment , ” he said , and would have made the same case for a President Hillary Clinton .
A legal brief laying out the contours of the Trump defence , due at noon Monday , was still being drafted , with White House attorneys and the outside legal team grappling over how political the document should be .
Those inside the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the pleadings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s more staid traditions and leave the sharper rhetoric to Twitter and cable news .
White House lawyers were successful in keeping Trump from adding House Republicans to the team , but they also advised him against tapping Dershowitz , according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions .
They ’ re concerned because of the professor ’ s association with Jeffrey Epstein , the millionaire who killed himself in jail last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges .
A Fox News host said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways with the network as a result of his role on the legal team .
Other members of Trump ’ s legal defence include Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general ; Jane Raskin , who was part of the president ’ s legal team during Mueller ’ s investigation ; Robert Ray , who was part of the Whitewater investigation of the Clintons ; and Eric D. Herschmann of the Kasowitz Benson Torres legal firm , which has represented Trump in numerous cases over the last 15 years .
Giuliani told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assembled a “ top-notch ” defence team and he was not disappointed not to be included .
Giuliani , who many in the White House blame for leading Trump down the path to impeachment by fueling Ukraine conspiracies , had previously expressed interest in being on the legal team .
But he said Friday his focus would be on being a potential witness , though there is no certainty that he would be called .
“ I will be getting ready to testify , ” he said .
Trump was impeached by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power and obstructing Congress , stemming from his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rivals as he was withholding security aid , and his efforts to block the ensuing congressional probe .
Senators were sworn in as jurors Thursday by Chief Justice John Roberts .
The president insists he did nothing wrong , and he complains about his treatment daily , sometimes distracting from unrelated events .
On Friday , as Trump welcomed the championship Louisiana State University football team to the Oval Office for photos , he said the space had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some good , some not so good .
But you got a good one now , even though they ’ re trying to impeach the son of a bitch .
Can you believe that ?
” While the president speaks dismissively of the case , new revelations are mounting about his actions toward Ukraine .
The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that the White House violated federal law in withholding the security assistance to Ukraine , which shares a border with hostile Russia .
Democrats deep into their own preparations released more information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prosecutors linking the president to the shadow foreign policy being run by Giuliani .
Friday ’ s release included multiple photos of the Soviet-born Florida businessman , including several with Giuliani and some with Trump and Trump ’ s son , Don Jr .
It also included messages between Parnas and a staff member for Rep. Devin Nunes , R-Calif. , a Trump ally .
The GAO report and Parnas documents have applied fresh pressure to senators to call more witnesses for the trial , a main source of contention that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House has instructed officials not to comply with subpoenas from Congress requesting witnesses or other information .
Views on it all are decidedly mixed in the Senate , reflective of the nation at the start of this election year .
“ I ’ ll be honest , a lot of us do see it as a political exercise , ” Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa told reporters on a conference call .
“ The whole process has really been odd or unusual or bizarre.
“ Others spoke of the seriousness of the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut .
He sits next to Elizabeth Warren , one of four senators running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in the fall , and said they agreed their “ overwhelming emotion was sadness.
” All said they will be listening closely to all arguments .
As she filed for re-election Friday in West Virginia , GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told reporters , “ I think it ’ s been a very politicized process to this point and the president hasn ’ t had a chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 1990s role as independent counsel , is a former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge .
More recently , he was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university ’ s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players .
Starr said his resignation was the result of the university ’ s board of regents seeking to place the school under new leadership following the scandal , not because he was accused of hiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dershowitz ’ s reputation has been damaged in recent years by his association with Epstein .
One of Epstein ’ s alleged victims , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , has accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse .
Dershowitz has denied it and has been battling in court for years with Giuffre and her lawyers .
He recently wrote a book , “ Guilt by Accusation , ” rejecting her allegations .
Giuffre and Dershowitz are also suing each other for defamation , each saying the other is lying .
Associated Press writers David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa , Anthony Izaguirre in West Virginia , Sean Murphy in Oklahoma and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report .

Eric Tucker And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-01-18--Migrants, troops slowly build up on Guatemala-Mexico border

TECUN UMAN , Guatemala - More than 200 mostly Honduran migrants rested on a bridge at the Guatemala-Mexico border waiting for the arrival of others and hoping sheer numbers will improve their chances of entering Mexico and continuing their journey north .
Across the river from Tecun Uman , in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Hidalgo , National Guard troops with riot shields trucked in throughout Friday afternoon in anticipation of the migrants ’ next move .
Mexico ’ s government has said migrants entering the country without registering will not be allowed to pass from the border area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections will be allowed to apply and legalize their status .
Guatemalan officials had counted more than 3,000 migrants who registered at border crossings to enter that country in recent days and there were additional migrants who did not register .
Sonia Eloina Hernández , the Ciudad Hidalgo mayor , said officials were expecting a large number of migrants .
“ We ’ re readying ourselves , ” she said .
“ We don ’ t know exactly how many people are coming.
” About 148 migrants had crossed to Ciudad Hidalgo in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
At least 500 more were spread around Tecun Uman waiting .
As night fell Friday , migrants tried to sleep on the Guatemala side of the bridge , heads propped on knapsacks , children lying on parents .
Damp clothes hung from fences .
Others killed time playing soccer along the banks of the Suchiate river .
“ We have to wait to see what happens , ” said Tania Mejía , a 25-year-old mother from Honduras .
She had staked out a few square feet on the ground beside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter .
Mejía wanted to be among the first to cross , but was weighing that desire against the safety of her children and thinking she might hang back to see how things develop .
Her memories are still fresh of the first two migrant caravans she travelled with alone , one at the end of 2018 and another in the spring of 2019 .
She knew things could escalate if security forces tried to stop the migrants from entering Mexico .
“ They say the Mexicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but who knows ?
” she said .
If necessary , Mejía said , she might have to wade across the river like she did one of the previous times .
Her hope this time is not making it to the United States , but rather to northern Mexico .
“ I have a person in Mexicali who can give me a job so I went to get there , ” she said .
The bridge was not closed by Mexico on Friday .
Migrants who wanted to cross and request asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find work could do so .
But the migrants were wary of a trap .
Mexico ’ s offer of legal status and potential employment carries a stipulation that would confine them to southern Mexico , where wages are lower and there are fewer jobs than elsewhere in the country .
Hernández , the mayor , said it is different now in Mexico from 2018 and early 2019 , when mass caravans flowed across the border .
She said the Mexican government from the municipal to the federal level is co-ordinated and prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ciudad Hidalgo “ so the people don ’ t cross via the river , so that he who wants to enter Mexico , as our president says , ‘ Welcome , ’ but via the bridge.
” In Guatemala ’ s capital , Mauro Verzzeletti , director of the local migrant shelter , said he expected 1,000 to 1,500 people to bed down there Friday night .
The migrants planned to set out again Saturday around 4 a.m .
Meanwhile , Guatemala ’ s human rights defender ’ s office said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering at another point on the Mexican border far to the north in the Peten region and there were reports that Mexican forces were gathering on the other side of the border there .
In Ciudad Hidalgo , Francisco Garduño , commissioner of Mexico ’ s National Immigration Institute , was emphatic that migrants who try to enter the country irregularly would go no farther .
“ They can not enter because it would be in violation of the law , ” he told The Associated Press .
He declined to talk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were “ sufficient ” troops to keep things orderly .
Associated Press writer Sonia Pérez D. in Guatemala City contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-01-17--With Starr and Dershowitz, Trump is giving legal team a celebrity cast

U.S. President Donald Trump enlisted former Independent Counsel Ken Starr and celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz to join his defence team on Friday , turning to two veterans of politically charged legal cases to secure his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial that gets underway in earnest next week .
Starr , whose investigation into President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice in 1998 , will be joined by Robert W. Ray , his successor as independent counsel , who negotiated a settlement with Clinton as he left the White House that included a fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dershowitz , a Harvard Law School professor emeritus who became famous as a defence counsel for high-profile defendants like O.J .
Simpson , Claus von Bülow and Mike Tyson , will have a more limited role , presenting oral arguments at the Senate trial “ to address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal , ” the legal team said in a statement .
In choosing the three prominent lawyers , the president assembled what he regards as an all-star television legal team , enlisting some of his favourite defenders from Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own baggage .
Dershowitz represented Jeffrey Epstein , the convicted sex offender .
Starr was pushed out as a university president because of his handling of sexual misconduct by the football team .
And Ray was once charged with stalking a former girlfriend .
Bringing in Starr will also invariably supercharge the discussion over Trump ’ s impeachment by reopening the long-running debate over Clinton ’ s case .
Starr remains a polarizing figure from that era and every point he makes in favour of Trump ’ s innocence will invite comparisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Trump evidently sees Starr as an important validating presence who could endorse the view that the president ’ s impeachment was illegitimate and unfair .
The prosecutor whose investigation triggered the last presidential impeachment will now stand up on the floor of the Senate to declare that this impeachment is invalid .
And he will explain why , in the view of someone who has been there , these charges do not add up to high crimes .
“ President Trump has done nothing wrong and is confident that this team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our democracy from this baseless , illegitimate impeachment , ” the White House said in a statement on Friday night , confirming earlier news reports .
For some Republicans who admire Starr , his participation may carry weight .
“ I was encouraged by it , ” Sen. Kevin Cramer said of the newly constituted legal team .
But Trump ’ s built-out team , which will be led by the White House counsel , Pat A. Cipollone , and the president ’ s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow faces the dual challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among Republican senators and presenting his case to the wider public watching on television during an election year .
As long as Senate Republicans stick with Trump as expected , the House Democrats prosecuting the case will not be able to muster the two-thirds vote required for conviction .
But just as important to the president is framing the debate in a way that he can take onto the campaign trail as he battles Democrats for a second term .
But this team may not provide the sort of defence the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Steve Bannon , the president ’ s former chief strategist who has been hosting a daily radio show and podcast on impeachment with a group that often co-ordinates with the White House , said the addition of Dershowitz and Starr brought impressive legal power to Trump ’ s team .
But Bannon expressed concern that “ there are no fire breathers , ” as he put it .
“ It ’ s very conventional in its makeup and approach .
But this is not playing on C-SPAN .
The senators are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jury .
I strongly believe you need some of the fire breathers from the House , like Matt Gaetz , Jim Jordan , Mark Meadows and Lee Zeldin.
” Trump wanted some of those congressmen , among his most stalwart House Republican allies , to be on the defence team , but Sen. Mitch McConnell , the majority leader , rejected the idea .
Those House members , who are familiar with the testimony provided by witnesses during the impeachment inquiry , are expected to help behind the scenes and to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the president ’ s legal defence plan said .
Trump ’ s team is also preparing for the possibility that witnesses will be called in the trial , despite McConnell ’ s hope to avoid it .
Other lawyers joining Trump ’ s trial team include Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general who has been a spokeswoman for the defence effort ; Jane Serene Raskin , who defended Trump during the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller ; and Eric D. Herschmann , a partner at the law firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers , Marc E. Kasowitz .
The president has wanted media-savvy defenders who could play the same vocal role that Rudy Giuliani , his personal lawyer , did during the Russia investigation by Mueller .
Dershowitz has been a media figure for years , and Starr was a contributor to Fox News until parting ways with the network because of his new role with Trump .
But none of the choices was without controversy , and Republicans on Friday voiced private reservations about some of the lawyers .
Dershowitz has faced questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who killed himself in a New York City jail in August .
Dershowitz helped negotiate Epstein ’ s lenient sentence on sex charges in 2008 .
Dershowitz has also been accused of engaging in sex with an underage girl he met through Epstein ; he has denied the claim .
Starr , who helped Dershowitz on the Epstein defence in 2007 , was forced from his job as president of Baylor University in 2016 amid accusations he did not respond to allegations of sexual assault made by women against members of the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation rebuked the university leadership , saying it had “ created a cultural perception that football was above the rules.
” As he left the university presidency , Starr expressed “ heartfelt contrition for the tragedy and sadness that has unfolded ” and said he was “ profoundly sorry ” to victims who were not treated with the care and support they deserved .
As for Ray , he turned himself into New York authorities in 2006 in response to a misdemeanour charge of stalking a woman he had previously been dating .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman against her wishes after she broke off their relationship .
A law enforcement official said the case was sealed , suggesting it was most likely dismissed .
Ray declined to comment .
Trump himself has previously questioned Starr ’ s zealous pursuit of Clinton .
In 1999 , after the House voted to impeach the president largely along party lines , Trump told interviewers that Starr was a “ wacko ” and a “ lunatic.
” But more recently , he is said to have enjoyed watching him on television .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces two articles of impeachment accusing him of abusing his office by pressuring Ukraine to announce investigations of his Democratic rivals and obstructing Congress by refusing to provide documents or permit testimony during the House inquiry .
During his television appearances , Starr has argued that the articles of impeachment passed by the House largely along party lines were “ woefully inadequate ” to justify removing a president from office .
He has contrasted that with his investigation into Clinton , where the president was accused of felonies for trying to cover up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-time White House intern , during a sexual harassment lawsuit .
In a brief telephone interview , Dershowitz said he expected his sole role to be arguing on behalf of Trump before the Senate next Friday , making points he had made in writing and on television .
He said that he “ worried about the precedent ” set by the two articles of impeachment , which he described as “ too vague and open-ended , ” and absent “ high crimes and misdemeanours.
” The statement announcing his appointment described Dershowitz as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution , ” having opposed the impeachment of Clinton and voted for Hillary Clinton .
“ He is participating in this impeachment trial to defend the integrity of the Constitution and to prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent , ” the statement said .
The return of Starr to the impeachment stage was a head-spinning development for many veterans of the battle two decades ago .
Lewinsky expressed her disbelief on Twitter on Friday , writing , “ this is definitely an ‘ are you kidding me ?
’ kinda day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ kidding .
”

Maggie Haberman - The New York Times,Peter Baker


thetorontostar--2020-01-17--Alaska man given 9 years in prison for heroin distribution

KENAI , Alaska - An Alaska man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of heroin throughout the Kenai Peninsula , authorities said .
Matthew Sean Bremond , 32 , of Soldotna was sentenced Jan. 15 , The Peninsula Clarion reported Thursday .
Bremond pleaded guilty in September to one count of drug distribution , the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement .
Bremond ’ s sentence includes the federal prison term followed by five years of supervised release .
Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline expressed concern at the sentencing hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Bremond were “ destroying communities.
” Bremond was arrested after he made two heroin sales of 126 grams ( 4.4 ounces ) and 96 grams ( 3.4 ounces ) from his residence in May 2018 , Court records said .
A search of Bremond ’ s house , storage units and vehicle revealed evidence of drug trafficking including large quantities of firearms and cash , bulletproof vests and vehicles , records said .
Authorities seized 700 grams ( 25 ounces ) of heroin and 40 grams ( 1.4 ounces ) of cocaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records said .
Bremond agreed to forfeit more than $ 101,000 , three vehicles and items including 58 firearms , two bulletproof vests , two bump stocks , and a gun silencer that were drug sale proceeds or used to facilitate his trafficking enterprise , records said .
The Drug Enforcement Administration , Homeland Security Investigations , Alaska State Troopers , and the Kenai Police Department conducted the investigation .
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the District of Alaska .
Get more of the Star in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Star .
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