Business
Jury Finds Trump Guilty For Sexual Abuse, Awards Accuser $5M
NEW YORK – A jury held Donald Trump accountable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in a judgment that could follow the former president as he campaigns for re-election.
The jury returned a split verdict, rejecting Carroll’s claim that she was raped and holding Trump accountable for a lower degree of sexual abuse. The ruling adds to Trump’s legal difficulties while also vindicating Carroll, whose charges Trump had insulted and rejected for years.
She nodded when the decision was read aloud in a federal courtroom in New York City only three hours after deliberations began, then hugged supporters and smiled through tears. Carroll could be heard laughing and crying as the courtroom cleared.
Jurors also judged Trump guilty of defaming Carroll because of her allegations. Jury Trump did not appear at the civil trial and was not there when the judgment was read aloud.
Trump instantly took to Twitter, saying he did not know Carroll and calling the verdict “a disgrace” and “a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time.” He promised to file an appeal.
After the judgment was read, Trump’s lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, shook hands with Carroll and hugged her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan. He told reporters outside the courthouse that the jury’s rejection of the rape claim while finding Trump guilty of sexual abuse was “perplexing” and “strange.”
“Obviously, part of me was very happy that Donald Trump was not labelled a rapist,” he stated.
He justified Trump’s absence by referring to the trial’s “circus atmosphere.” He claimed that having Trump there would create “more of a circus.”
“What else can you say other than ‘I didn’t do it,'” Tacopina replied.
Kaplan said in a written statement that the verdict demonstrated that no one is above the law, “not even the president of the United States.”
Carroll sued Trump to “clear my name and reclaim my life.” Today, Jury the entire globe is aware of this reality. This triumph is for all women who have suffered because they were not believed.”
It was unclear what impact the verdict would have on Trump’s third presidential candidature, if any. He holds a commanding advantage among Republican candidates and has incurred little political consequences in the aftermath of past controversies ranging from the filthy Jury “Access Hollywood” tape to his criminal prosecution in New York.
The jury returned a split verdict.
His Republican opponents remained mute after the verdict, indicating their concern about alienating Trump followers,Jury vital to obtaining the presidential nomination. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, one of the few loud Trump detractors in the race, called the conviction “another Jury example of Donald Trump’s indefensible behaviour.”
Carroll was one of several women who accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment. Jury In a 2019 memoir, she claimed that the Republican raped her in the changing room of a posh Manhattan department shop.
Trump, 76, rejected it, saying he had never met Carroll and had no idea who she was. He has referred to her as a “nut job” who concocted “a fraudulent and false story” to sell a memoir.
Carroll, 79, requested unspecified monetary damages and a retraction of Trump’s allegedly defamatory denials of her claims.
The trial brought up the contentious issue of Trump’s behavior towards women.
Carroll testified for several days, open and at times emotional, and was supported by two friends who claimed that she reported the alleged incident to them shortly afterward.
Jurors also heard from Jessica Leeds, a former stockbroker who said Trump touched her against her will on an airline flight in the 1970s, and Natasha Stoynoff,Jury a journalist who claimed Trump forcibly kissed her when she was interviewing him for a 2005 story.
The jury of six men and three women was also shown a 2005 “Access Hollywood” hot-mic recording of Trump bragging about kissing and grabbing women without their permission.
The Associated Press does not usually name persons who claim to have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll, Leeds, and Stoynoff have.
The ruling comes as Trump confronts an increasing barrage of legal challenges.
He is battling a criminal prosecution in New York involving hush money payments to a porn star. The state attorney general has filed a lawsuit against him, his family, and his company for alleged financial misconduct.
The jury returned a split verdict.
Trump is also dealing with probes into his suspected mismanagement of confidential papers, his behavior during the 2020 election, and his involvement during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurgency at the United States Capitol. Trump denies any wrongdoing in any of these cases.
Carroll, who wrote an advice column for Elle magazine for 27 years, has also written for magazines and “Saturday Night Live.” She and Trump were in overlapping social circles at a 1987 party, where a photo of them and their then-spouses chatting was taken. Trump has stated that he has no recollection of it.
Carroll claims she ended up in a dressing room with Trump after they met at Bergdorf Goodman on an undetermined Thursday evening in the spring of 1996.
Carroll said that they went on an unscheduled trip to the lingerie aisle so he could look for a women’s gift and soon were taunting one other about going on a tiny bodysuit. It appeared to her to be a comedy sketch, similar to her 1986 “Saturday Night Live” sketch in which a man admires himself in a mirror.
However, she claimed that Trump slammed the door, trapped her against a wall, pressed his mouth on hers, ripped her tights down, and raped her as she tried to flee. Carroll claimed she eventually shoved him off with her knee and exited the business.
“I always think back to why I walked in there to get myself into that situation,” she said, her voice shaking, “but I’m proud to say I did get out.”
She never phoned the cops or noted it in her diary. Carroll claimed she remained silent, fearing Trump’s retaliation, embarrassment, and concern that people would hold her responsible for the incident.
The jury gave Carroll $2 million for Trump’s sexual abuse and $20,000 in punitive damages. Jurors awarded $1 million in defamation damages for Trump’s October statement, $1.7 million in reputational damages, and $280,000 in punitive damages.
Tacopina told jurors Carroll made up her charges after seeing a 2012 “Law and Order” episode in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman store’s lingerie section.
Carroll “cannot produce any objective evidence to back up her claim because it didn’t happen,” he told the jury. He accused her of “advancing a false rape claim for money, political reasons, and status.”
In questioning Carroll, he sought to doubt her account of fending off the significantly heavier Trump without dropping her bags or ripping her tights and without anyone in the lingerie department hearing or seeing them.
The lawyer pressured her on not yelling, looking for help when fleeing the store, or seeking medical attention, security video, or police, according to her own story.
Carroll chastised him.
“I’m telling you he raped me, whether I screamed or not,” she added.
Since the legal time limit has long passed, Trump cannot be charged with assaulting Carroll.
She filed her legal action as a defamation complaint for similar grounds, claiming that Trump’s insulting denials had subjected her to hostility, damaged her reputation, and harmed her career.
Then, beginning last autumn, New York State allowed victims to sue for sexual assault charges that would otherwise be too late. Carroll was among the first to file a claim.
SOURCE – (AP)
Business
Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists
Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.
Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.
Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.
Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.
Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.
Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.
Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.
The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.
The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.
The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.
They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.
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Business
Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout
An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.
The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.
According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.
The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.
It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.
Amazon Strike at 10 Locations
Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.
The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.
The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.
Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.
Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.
Stalled Contract Negotiations
Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.
However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.
Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.
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Business
Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.
(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.
The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.
The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.
Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.
The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.
Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.
Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.
“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.
“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.
The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.
The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.
Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.
Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.
Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.
In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.
The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.
In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.
“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”
The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.
SOURCE: NPR
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