Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and as we head into the Labor Day weekend, we’ve got some really intriguing stories to share with you right now, and here’s what’s going on.
An updated indictment for former President Donald Trump adds to his legal battles, the Trump and Harris teams continue to disagree over the rules at their upcoming debate, and a U.S. attorney in Virginia is stepping down. Also, a Las Vegas politician is found guilty of killing a reporter critical of his behavior, and more people have died from last month’s listeria outbreak.
What’s Next for Trump in His Ongoing Criminal Cases?
Special counsel Jack Smith filed a superseding indictment this week in his prosecution of Trump for actions on and leading up to the events of Jan. 6, 2021.The special counsel maintained his original four counts against Trump but adjusted the indictment to take into account the Supreme Court’s recent immunity ruling, which found that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts.
However, Trump continues to face potential legal battles in four criminal cases, raising the prospect that a possible future presidency could be marked by continual litigation.
So far, he’s had some legal victories, as the courts have delivered rulings weakening prosecutions in Georgia and Washington. A federal judge also dismissed the classified documents case in Florida, but none of these cases are expected to reach trial before November’s election.
You should know that even though Trump was convicted in his New York trial, the judge could postpone sentencing until after the election. However, he’s currently scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18.
You should also know that if he wins reelection, Trump could potentially pardon himself in his federal court cases, while his responsibilities as president will give him a strong argument to thwart any attempt to put him in prison in other cases.
Harris Campaign Says Rules for ABC Debate With Trump Still Not Finalized
The vice president’s team is still trying to hammer out the final rules for the upcoming debate that’s set to take place on Sept. 10, which Trump’s team says have been settled.You should know the major disagreement the two sides have is over the issue of microphones. Brian Fallon, the spokesman for Harris, said that the Trump campaign asked them to accept having microphones muted when the other candidate is talking. However, the Harris team wants the mics to be live.
To refresh your memory, during the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, the rules included muting the mics when the other person was talking and strict response time limits. The Sept. 10 debate, which was supposed to be a rematch between Trump and Biden, aimed at keeping the same rules in place.
You should also know that additional rules for the debate include having the candidates standing, no notes or “cheat sheets,” and neither side being given questions in advance, according to the former president.
By the way, he’s also suggested having another debate, on Fox News, but so far, the Harris team hasn’t agreed to any additional debates.
Western Virginia US Attorney to Resign After Wife’s Judicial Appointment
U.S. Attorney Chris Kavanaugh says he’s resigning from his position at the end of the year to avoid any potential conflicts of interest, following his wife’s appointment as a district court judge in the same district.The U.S. Senate confirmed his wife, Jasmine Yoon, in March with a 55–41 vote, making her the first Asian American federal judge in Virginia. At the time, Yoon said she would recuse herself from any cases in which the United States was a party until Kavanaugh left office.
Kavanaugh expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the district, saying it’s been the professional highlight of his life. He’s been in that position since October 2021.
You should know that the role of the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia is to oversee the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of civil matters involving the federal government in the district.
Kavanaugh also serves on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, chairing its National Security Subcommittee, and he co-chairs the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee.
On a side note, his tenure as U.S. attorney was marked by several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of a research animal breeder that agreed to pay $35 million in June to resolve an investigation into its mistreatment of thousands of beagles.
Former Politician Convicted of Killing Las Vegas Reporter
Earlier this week, a Nevada jury found Robert Telles, a former Clark County public administrator, guilty of murdering an investigative journalist who wrote articles critical of his conduct in office.Investigative reporter Jeff German, 69, was stabbed to death in a side yard of his home in 2022. The jury found Telles guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon on a victim aged 60 or older, and they deliberated for nearly 12 hours before voting unanimously to convict him.
Prosecutors argued Telles stabbed German to death over a series of articles in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that were critical of Telles’s behavior. Some of the allegations that German wrote about were that Telles engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and that he often harassed and bullied his staff at the Clark County Public Administrator’s Office.
Prosecutors say German was murdered after internal communications from the office were going to be made public. Telles, an attorney who practiced civil law before he was elected in 2018, lost his primary for a second elected term. He blamed German’s articles, which appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May and June 2022, that criticized his leadership.
So you know, one of the prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments that Telles blamed German for destroying his career, ruining his reputation, and threatening his marriage. He went on to say that German fought with his assailant and reminded the jury that DNA, which matched Telles’s, was found under German’s fingernails.
You should also know that the jury has recommended a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
By the way, German spent 44 years covering crime, courts, and corruption in Las Vegas.
Death Toll From Multistate Listeria Outbreak Related to Deli Meats Rises to 9: CDC
Six more people have died and a total of nearly 60 people have been hospitalized due to a multistate outbreak of listeria since last month. It’s linked to Boar’s Head deli meat, specifically the Strassburger Brand Liverwurst.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the six additional deaths happened in five states: one each in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, and New York, and two in South Carolina.
To refresh your memory, the company first recalled the liverwurst on July 25, because it had the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Boar’s Head said as a precaution, it had also recalled nine other products made on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst.
However, the company also said, it went further once a link between the liverwurst and the outbreak was established, and just four days later recalled every item that was produced at the same facility in Virginia.
The CDC says it’s the largest listeria outbreak since a 2011 incident linked to cantaloupe.
You should know that Boar’s Head has apologized to customers and expressed regret at the loss of life and sickness caused by their contaminated product, saying, “No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness.”
On a side note, the CDC says listeriosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and people aged 65 or over and for those with a weakened immune system.
For folks who bought the contaminated products, you’re advised to either throw them out or return them to the store for a full refund.
And now, it looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re going to call it a wrap for the Friday edition of the Epoch Times News Brief, the very last Friday in the month of August.
Thanks for checking out the program today, and next time you drop in for a listen, feel free to bring your friends, family, and co-workers.
*(Don’t forget the News Brief Motto): We’re portable, affordable, and always on-demand.
And finally, as we do each and every day on this program, we wrap everything up with a very notable quote. This one comes to us from Winston Churchill, who said. “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”
Sir Winston Churchill was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who was twice prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Before we go, today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day—a day to celebrate one of America’s favorite fire-roasted treats. What better way to kick off a long holiday weekend than to enjoy a delicious, warm, gooey, toasted marshmallow? Add a pair of graham crackers and a chocolate bar, and you’ve got yourself a world-famous treat called a s’more.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
The Epoch Times News Brief is written by the legendary Sharon Reardon.
Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased daily synopsis of many of the news stories you need to know about.
Enjoy the remainder of your Friday, and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow for the Saturday edition (the weekend edition) of The Epoch Times News Brief. For now, let’s all continue to watch out for one another, and have an absolutely superb day today! Bye for now.
