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President Offers Love And Pride For His Son’s Addiction Recovery After Hunter Biden’s Guilty Verdict
Washington — To avoid the appearance of interference, President Joe Biden stayed away from the courtroom where his son Hunter was on trial for felony gun charges, but his rapid remark in response to the jury’s guilty judgment Tuesday spoke to where his heart has always been.
“Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” said Biden in a letter. “So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.”
Biden aides and allies have quietly expressed concern about the impact a guilty judgment might have on the 81-year-old president, whose personal loss is inextricably linked to his public life. They claim the president is less concerned about any personal political consequences than he is about his son, who is only a few years removed from the throes of severe drug addiction.
President Offers Love And Pride For His Son’s Addiction Recovery After Hunter Biden’s Guilty Verdict
Evidently, the president’s son’s legal problems were causing at least some confusion in the White House. After the verdict was announced, the White House canceled press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s scheduled conference and stated that Biden would travel by helicopter to Wilmington, Delaware, for an impromptu overnight visit with his family. A bus carrying Biden staff and reporters drove from the White House with lights and sirens to meet the president in Wilmington.
The verdict came shortly before the president spoke at a conference in Washington held by the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund about his administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence and toughen gun law enforcement. Biden called for stricter gun-purchase regulations in his speech but did not refer to his son’s conviction on gun charges hours earlier.
Biden was scheduled to return to his Delaware home on Tuesday afternoon, when he was expected to spend time with his family, including Hunter, before heading for Italy on Wednesday morning to attend the G7 conference. During the trial, Biden spent more time than normal in Wilmington as part of a family show of support for Hunter.
Jill Biden, the first lady, was in the courtroom nearly every day — and made a 24-hour trip back from France to be there for testimony on Friday — but she was not present when the decision was announced on Tuesday. She returned to the courthouse minutes after the foreperson three times intoned “guilty.” Several other family members were present during the trial.
The president did not attend court but was intently monitoring the proceedings, with frequent updates from the first lady. However, every day when Hunter entered the courthouse, he passed a portrait of his father hanging on the wall as he came through the doors.
Like his father, Hunter Biden addressed family relationships and the rehabilitation process in his statement.
President Offers Love And Pride For His Son’s Addiction Recovery After Hunter Biden’s Guilty Verdict
“I am more grateful today for the love and support I received last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome,” Hunter Biden said in a statement, referring to his wife first. “Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.”
The trial provided an extremely personal account of Hunter Biden’s drug usage and blunders. Jurors heard hours of testimony from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, a former lover, and his brother’s widow, who described strip club trips, infidelity, regular crack usage, and failed efforts to help him get clean. Jurors saw photographs of the president’s son bare-chested and untidy in a dirty room, as well as half-naked with crack pipes. And they saw a video of his crack cocaine being weighed on a scale.
Prosecutors said that the evidence was required to show jurors that the 54-year-old was in the throes of addiction when he purchased the pistol and so lied on a gun-purchase form when he claimed he was not unlawfully using or addicted to drugs.
“The evidence was personal.” “It was ugly, and it was overwhelming,” prosecutor Leo Wise claimed. “It was also absolutely necessary.”
Throughout the discussions, Wise pushed jurors to weigh the evidence. Then he swept his hand across the room, directing their attention to the gallery and the Biden family members seated in the courtroom.
“All of this is not evidence,” he explained. “People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.”
President Offers Love And Pride For His Son’s Addiction Recovery After Hunter Biden’s Guilty Verdict
Meanwhile, Tuesday’s ruling does little to resolve the first son’s legal issues. He is expected to be punished before the November presidential election, and his lawyers have indicated that he may appeal the judgment. He will stand trial in California in September on federal tax fraud accusations.
Even Republican detractors expressed sympathy for the Biden family.
“Anybody who has a child, and I have children of my own, anyone who has children, this is devastating to them,” said Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
SOURCE – (AP)
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
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News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
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News
Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
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