Monthly Archives: January 2022

Dozens of former Trump staff had call to figure out how to thwart Trump in 2022, 2024 – Business Insider

Posted: January 19, 2022 at 11:37 am

About three dozen former US officials who served under President Donald Trump jumped on a conference call this week to figure out how to thwart Trump's efforts in the 2022 and 2024 elections, according to CNN.

Jake Tapper reported on the call, which was said to have taken place last Monday and involved high-profile Trump officials including John Kelly, Trump's former chief of staff. Also on the call, per CNN, were the former White House staffers Alyssa Farah Griffin and Anthony Scaramucci, the former Department of Homeland Security official Elizabeth Neumann, and Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

CNN noted that the people associated with the call were known critics of Trump. Kelly has made several statements about Trump, saying the former president "doesn't know any history at all, even some of the basics on the US." He also said in August 2020 that informing Trump that the things he planned to do were illegal was like "French kissing a chainsaw."

Scaramucci, who held the role of White House communications director for less than two weeks, has broken with Trump and repeatedly feuded with the former president. Griffin, a former spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence who also served as Trump's communications director, was ridiculed by the president, who called her a "clown." She also commented in January that the Republican Party was "morally in disrepair" because of the GOP's failure to acknowledge the January 6 Capitol riot was a "big deal."

According to Tapper, Miles Taylor, a Trump official turned prominent Trump critic, helped lead the call and told CNN the participants were "overflowing with ideas" on how to stop Trump. Ideas, according to Tapper, included "shining a light" on the former president's financial backers and figuring out how to defeat Trump-endorsed candidates running in 2022 and 2024.

"We all agreed passionately that letters and statements don't mean anything," Taylor told CNN. "The two operative words are 'electoral effects.' How can we have tangible electoral effects against the extremist candidates that have been endorsed by Trump?"

Taylor is best known for anonymously writing a scathing 2018 New York Times op-ed article titled "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration."

The Trump-era White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham was said to have missed the call because of a COVID-19 infection but told CNN she was still engaged with the group. Grisham signaled the group's plans earlier this month, saying on January 6 that the group planned to meet to talk about how they could "formally do some things to try and stop" Trump.

The group which has not released its name or published a list of members is among several GOP-linked organizations that have expressed opposition to Trump. In October, a Republican group called Republicans for Voting Rights put up several billboards across the US, including in Times Square, to remind the former president that he lost the 2020 election. The Lincoln Project, founded by current and former Republicans, also worked during the 2020 election to prevent Trump's reelection.

Trump has not yet announced a 2024 presidential run and said in November that he would "probably" wait until after the 2022 midterm elections to confirm his decision on a 2024 presidential bid.

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Donald Trumps former attorney general William Barr to publish his memoirs – The Guardian

Posted: at 11:37 am

William Barr, Donald Trumps second attorney general and perceived hatchet man until he split from the former president over his lies about election fraud, will publish his memoirs in March.

HarperCollins, the publisher of One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General, promised a vivid and forthright read on Barrs long career in law and conservative politics, in which he was first attorney general under George HW Bush.

Barr takes readers behind the scenes during seminal moments of the Bush administration in the 1990s, from the LA riots to Pan Am 103 and Iran Contra, the publisher said on Tuesday.

With the Trump administration, Barr faced an unrelenting barrage of issues, such as Russia-gate, the opioid epidemic, Chinese espionage, big tech, the Covid outbreak, civil unrest, the first impeachment, and the 2020 election fallout.

The publisher also said Barr would help readers understand how Bush and Trump viewed power and justice at critical junctures of their presidencies.

During the investigation of Russian election meddling and links between Trump and Moscow, Barr stoked rage among Democrats who accused him of interfering on behalf of the president.

His handling of Robert Muellers report also prompted protest from the special counsel himself.

Republicans and other observers defended Barr but the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, then a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, called him a disgrace and not a credible head of federal law enforcement.

Barr was also present during key flash points of the Trump administration, for instance, walking at the presidents side in summer 2020 when he marched across Washington DCs Lafayette Square, which had been cleared of protesters against racism and police brutality, to stage a photo op at a historic church.

Barr split from Trump as the president refused to admit defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Angry scenes between the two men have been reported in other books, including bestsellers by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa of the Washington Post and Jon Karl of ABC News.

Barr stoked Trumps rage by telling the Associated Press he had not seen evidence of fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.

He was no longer in office during the culmination of Trumps concerted attempt to overturn his election defeat the deadly Capitol riot of January 6.

On 7 January 2021, Barr condemned Trump for orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress and said: The presidents conduct was a betrayal of his office and supporters.

The same day, the Guardian published an article examining the state of the Department of Justice after Barrs second stint in the chair.

Vanita Gupta, a former head of the civil rights division, said: The morale and the reputation of the department has been gutted because of undue political influence on the decisions of career staff.

The department needs to be rebuilt by new leadership committed at every turn to decisions made on the law and on the facts, and not on what the president wants.

On Tuesday, Sadie Gurman, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was among observers to note the provenance and irony of Barrs chosen title.

Current attorney general Merrick Garland, Gurman said, might appreciate that Barrs book title is actually an homage to his hero, Ed Levi, who, when asked to describe the job of attorney general famously replied, Its just one damn thing after another.

Ed Levi, a law professor and non-politician, was installed by Gerald Ford in 1975, after the Watergate scandal brought down Richard Nixon and his attorney general, John Mitchell who served time in prison.

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Donald Trumps former attorney general William Barr to publish his memoirs - The Guardian

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Prosecutors Reportedly Asked About Trumps Role in Jan. 6 Riot – The New York Times

Posted: at 11:37 am

For months, the Justice Department has provided little public indication of whether, or how seriously, it is investigating the role played by former President Donald J. Trump in the violent attack on the Capitol last Jan. 6.

But on Tuesday, for the first time, evidence emerged in court papers that prosecutors have posed questions to at least one Jan. 6 defendant that were focused on establishing an organized conspiracy involving Mr. Trump and his allies to disrupt the work of Congress.

The papers were filed by a defense lawyer in the case of Brandon Straka, a former hair stylist who founded a group called the Walk Away Foundation, which seeks to persuade Democratic voters to leave the party.

On the day before the Capitol was stormed, Mr. Straka spoke at a pro-Trump rally in Washington with prominent right-wing figures like the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Mr. Straka was also at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

In October, he pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct, admitting, among other things, that he had urged a crowd outside the building to wrest a riot shield away from a police officer.

Last week, prosecutors filed a sentencing memo in his case, recommending that he serve four months of home detention. The memo noted that Mr. Straka had met with prosecutors earlier this month as part of his plea agreement and had been cooperative in answering their questions.

It remains unclear exactly what those questions were, but Mr. Strakas lawyer, Bilal Essayli, offered a broad description in his clients own sentencing memo, which was filed on Tuesday. In the memo, Mr. Essayli said that during Mr. Strakas interview with prosecutors, the government was focused on establishing an organized conspiracy between defendant, President Donald J. Trump, and allies of the former president to disrupt the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6.

Mr. Straka answered all questions truthfully and denied the existence of any such plot, Mr. Essaylis memo said.

Mr. Essayli did not respond to phone calls seeking comment about the interview. William Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, which is prosecuting the cases related to Jan. 6, also declined to comment.

In the past year, prosecutors have charged more than 700 people in connection with the storming of the Capitol, including members of far-right extremist groups like the Oath Keepers militia, whose leader was accused of sedition last week with 10 of his subordinates.

Mark Meadows. Mr. Trumps chief of staff, who initially provided the panel with a trove of documents that showed the extent of his rolein the efforts to overturn the election, is now refusing to cooperate. The House voted to recommend holding Mr. Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress.

Scott Perry and Jim Jordan. The Republican representatives of Pennsylvaniaand Ohioare among a group of G.O.P. congressmenwho were deeply involved in efforts to overturn the election. Both Mr. Perryand Mr. Jordanhaverefused to cooperatewith the panel.

Big Tech firms. The panel has criticized Alphabet, Meta, Reddit and Twitterfor allowing extremism to spread on their platforms and saying they have failed to cooperate adequately with the inquiry. The committee has issued subpoenas to all four companies.

Michael Flynn. Mr. Trumps former national security adviser attended an Oval Office meeting on Dec. 18 in which participants discussed seizing voting machines and invoking certain national security emergency powers. Mr. Flynn has filed a lawsuitto block the panels subpoenas.

Phil Waldron. The retired Army colonelhas been under scrutiny since a 38-page PowerPoint documenthe circulated on Capitol Hill was turned over to the panel by Mr. Meadows. The document contained extreme plans to overturn the election.

John Eastman. The lawyer has been the subject of intense scrutinysince writing a memothat laid out how Mr. Trump could stay in power. Mr. Eastman was present at a meeting of Trump allies at the Willard Hotelthat has becomea prime focus of the panel.

Still, there has been enormous public interest in whether investigators will ultimately reach beyond those who took part in the melee on Jan. 6 and seek to build a case against Mr. Trump and the circle of his allies who helped inspire the violence that day with baseless claims of election fraud.

On the first anniversary of the attack, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said he was committed to holding all Jan. 6 perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law. But he did not name Mr. Trump, and there has been little public indication of any effort by the department to seek information from or about any of his close aides or allies.

The description of the interviews in Mr. Strakas memo, however brief, echoed comments made by some members of the House select committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, who have questioned whether Mr. Trump broke the law by obstructing Congresss duty to oversee the peaceful transition of power to Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, the vice chairwoman of the House committee, has been particularly pointed in suggesting that Mr. Trump, by failing to stop the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, may have violated federal law. The law Ms. Cheney was referring to obstruction of an official proceeding before Congress has been challenged repeatedly by defense lawyers with Jan. 6 cases, but five separate federal judges have recently ruled that it was viable.

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The Trump Org Stiffed a Hotel. His Kids May Pay the Price. – The Daily Beast

Posted: at 11:37 am

Former President Donald Trump and his family company have a long history of stiffing contractors, but theres one bill they almost certainly wish they had paid.

Ahead of the 2017 presidential inauguration, the Trump Organization reserved a block of rooms at the Loews Madison Hotel. When at least 13 people didnt show up, the Trump Organization refused to pay the bill, something it has done many times in the past. The company then dodged a credit collection agency and eventually squirmed out of it by pushing the $49,358 bill off to the nonprofit presidential inaugural committee, the PIC.

That dodged payment is now the crux of the attorney general for the District of Columbias latest effort to put the Trump Organization back in its crosshairs in an ongoing investigation into how the Trump kids used the Presidential Inauguration Committee to throw lavish parties of their own.

It was their friends. It should never have been sent to the PIC. Thats misuse of funding. The Trump Organization being involved in any way and getting the PIC to pay any sort of balance anywhere on their behalf? It just doesnt seem legitimate, said Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who coordinated inaugural events and is now the governments lead witness in this case.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

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Winston Wolkoff is no friend of the Trumpsany more. Although she was close to the family for more than a decade and eventually became Trusted Adviser to First Lady Melania Trump, there was a fallout after Winston Wolkoff felt that the Trump White House made her the scapegoat for inauguration misspending. The New York Times identified a company associated with her, WIS Media Partners, as the recipient of a whopping $26 million, and Winston Wolkoff later overcame Justice Department resistance to publication of her tell-all book called Melania and Me.

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine continues to investigate how the inauguration committee allegedly misspent more than $1 million and was allegedly used to essentially enrich Trumps own company on his way into the White House. And the Attorney Generals office is trying to recover from a courtroom defeat late last year.

In November, D.C. Superior Court Judge Jos M. Lpez seemed to doom the local attorney generals investigation when he cut the Trump Organization loose from the lawsuit. His reasoning, which surprised those following the case, was that the familys company wasnt directly involvedeven though Don Jr., Ivanka, and other staffers at the companys New York office were on a lot of the paperwork. So he dropped the Trump Organization from the lawsuit.

Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine

Alex Wong/Getty

The judges Nov. 8 order hinged on the companys claims that Texas financier Gentry Beach didnt have the authority to list the Trump Organization when he pulled out an American Express credit card and made the large and expensive reservation. However, Beach was no stranger to the Trump Organization. He was Donald Trump Jr.s college pal and was handpicked to serve on the nonprofits finance committee. He was also outed by journalists even before the inauguration for being part of a nonprofitdirected by Eric Trump, Don Jr. and another wealthy Texanthat seemed to be auctioning off access to the Trumps.

Since then, Racines office has filed documents in court seeking to reverse that, pointing to numerous receipts and memos that show how even the debt collector wouldnt be duped into letting the Trump Organization weasel its way out of this one.

In the typical fashion of an aggressive collections agency, Campbell Hightower & Adams in Arizona started bombarding the company with phone calls and emails in June 2017, picking up where the Loews Madison Hotel had left off.

A collector, identified only as Sherie, jotted down notes when she repeatedly communicated with Don Jr.s executive assistant, Kara Hanley.

Unfortunately, this was not an agreement made by anyone at The Trump Organization. Best, Kara, Hanley wrote on June 8.

A contract was signed and then 13 people did not show up for the rooms you reserved [sic] so according to the contract terms, those rooms still have to be paid for. What am I missing? Sherie wrote back.

A few weeks later, Sherie notified the Trump Organization that she had just found out that yet another Don Jr. executive assistant, Lindsey Santoro, had initially requested the rooms and added Beach as the main contact for the deal. That information seemed to cement even further that the company was indeed involved.

And when the hotel contacted the collections agency in July to request that the bill suddenly change the listed debtor to 58th Presidential Inauguration Committeewith an odd special note saying It just cannot say The Trump OrganizationSherie grew suspicious.

I hesitate as they all seem to be pointing fingers and making excuses as to why they wont pay it and this seems to be another ploy so the Trump Organizations name is not on it, Sherie wrote back on July 10.

Records show the bill was eventually paid by the Presidential Inaugural Committee at the direction of Rick Gates, a Trump political operator ally who served on the committeeand eventually served jail time for committing unrelated crimes caught by special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

The District of Columbias AG hopes this evidence proves that the Trump Organization should remain part of the lawsuit, which seeks to seize money it deems was misused and divert it instead to another nonprofit. Otherwise, the civil investigation would continue only against the PIC (which is no longer active) and the Trump International Hotel Washington (which is being sold anyway).

In court filings, a lawyer for the Trump Organization and Trump Hotel blasted the AGs last-ditch effort as merely rehashed arguments that seek several bites at several apples. On Dec. 14, attorney Rebecca Woods reiterated that Don Jr.s buddy, Beach, didnt have the explicit authority to make the deal. She also wrote that investigators shouldnt be allowed to now seek sworn testimony from him or Santoro, the executive assistant.

When approached by The Daily Beast, the AGs office pointed to the arguments it made in court. The Trump Organizations lawyer didnt respond to a request for comment. The collection agency didnt return calls on Friday.

Notably, none of these documents described yet another layer of Trump Organization involvement: how company chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg puzzlingly assumed the responsibility of auditing the nonprofit PICs finances. Last summer, D.C. investigators wanted to interview him under oath, but he was then indicted for criminal tax fraud in New York City.

The local attorney generals request is now up to the judgebut a different one this time. On New Years Eve, the case was reassigned to D.C. Superior Court Judge Yvonne Williams, a former NAACP lawyer appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama.

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Omicron news, Donald Trump, Russia & more: Whats trending today – cleveland.com

Posted: at 11:37 am

A look at some of the top headlines trending online today around the world including what you need to know about potential problems for Donald Trump, updates on the Russia-Ukraine standoff, the latest developments surrounding the Omicron surge and much more.

N.Y. Attorney General Outlines Pattern of Possible Fraud at Trump Business (NY Times)

Rudy Giuliani, three other Trump allies subpoenaed in January 6 riot probe (CNBC)

Former Trump officials plotting effort to blunt his impact on elections: report (The Hill)

Blinken launches fresh diplomatic push in Ukraine as fears of Russian invasion mount (NBC)

Airlines scrap or change flights to U.S. over 5G dispute, even though technologys rollouts been delayed near some airports (AP)

Federal N95 mask giveaway will start soon (cleveland.com)

Omicron is not that mild: 50,000 to 300,000 more US deaths projected by March (USA Today)

Nearly 1 million pediatric Covid cases reported last week (NBC)

COVID-19 health emergency could be over this year, WHO says (ABC)

Lawmakers call for investigation into at-home COVID test price gouging (CBS)

Fashion Icon and Former Vogue Creative Director Andr Leon Talley Dead at 73 (People)

Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott apologizes for comments about fans throwing objects at officials (ESPN)

Harder They Fall, Insecure, H.E.R. nab NAACP awards noms (AP)

Microsoft buys gaming giant Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion (AP)

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Stocks Edge Higher, Ford Cashes In, 5G Rollout Pause, Bullish ASML And Donald Trump – 5 Things You Must Know – TheStreet

Posted: at 11:37 am

Here are five things you must know for Wednesday, January 19:

U.S. equity futures edged higher Wednesday, while Treasury yields extended their recent surge amid bets that the Federal Reserve will quicken the pace of near-term rate hikes as inflationary pressures continue to build in the world's largest economy.

Stocks were hit hard by the prospects of faster rate hikes yesterday, while weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings from Goldman Sachs GS kept the Dow Jones Industrial Average deeply in the red, closing out its worst day since November, and pushed the S&P 500 into a year-to-date decline of around 4%.

A 0.25% March rate hike is all but assured from the Fed, but bets on a 50 basis point move are starting to creep in, lifting 2-year Treasury note yields to a February 2020 high of 1.075%.

Further upside pressures on oil prices, which have lifted WTI crude to the highest levels in seven years, were evident overnight amid disruption in a pipeline between Iraq and Turkey, while benchmark 10-year German bund yields traded in positive territory for the first time since 2019.

Bond market moves are likely to loom large over the markets again Wednesday, although a series of blue-chip earnings reports -- including updates from Dow components UnitedHealth (UNH) - Get UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Report and Procter & Gamble (PG) - Get Procter & Gamble Company Report-- will also provide direction prior to the start of trading.

Futures tied to the Dow are indicating a modest 35 point opening bell gain while those linked to the S&P 500 are priced for an 8 point bump to the upside.

Nasdaq Composite futures are indicating a 40 point opening bell gain as benchmark 10-year Treasury note yields climb to a post-pandemic high of 1.895% in overnight trading.

Ford F shares edged lower in pre-market trading after the carmaker said late Tuesday that its early investment in Rivian Automotive (RIVN) - Get Rivian Automotive, Inc. Class A Reportwould add around $8.2 billion to its fourth quarter bottom line.

In an investor update ahead of its formal earnings release on February 3, Ford said gains from Rivian's November IPO would be booked as a special item over the three months ending in December. Ford invested $500 million in Rivian in 2019 and has a total stake of around 12% in the Irvine, California-based EV group.

Rivian shares, once valued at more than $100 billion, closed at $73.16 last night, pegging their market cap at just under $66 billion.

Ford shares were marked 0.12% lower in pre-market trading Wednesday to indicate an opening bell price of $24.35 each.

U.S. air travelers could face another day of delay and disruption Wednesday as carriers around the world cancel flights in and out of the country following the initial rollout of 5G networks by AT&T (T) - Get AT&T Inc. Reportand Verizon (VZ) - Get Verizon Communications Inc. Report.

Although the wireless groups said they would pause rollouts near major U.S. airports, following warnings from both airline bosses and the Federal Aviation Administration linked to concerns that the 5G frequencies could affect some flight navigation instruments -- particularly in planes made by Boeing (BA) - Get Boeing Company Report-- several international carriers have cancelled flights or substituted aircraft to U.S. destinations.

President Joe Biden said the agreement to pause 5G rollouts at key airport towers would "avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90% of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled."

United Airlines (UAL) - Get United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Reportwas marked 0.1% lower in pre-market trading at $45.60 each, while American Airlines (AAL) - Get American Airlines Group, Inc. Reportedged 0.2% higher to $17.94. Delta Air Lines (DAL) - Get Delta Air Lines, Inc. Reportwas marked 0.15% higher at $39.60 each while Boeing was little-changed at $225.05 each.

U.S. chip stocks jumped higher in pre-market trading aftersemiconductor equipment makerASML NV (AMSL) posted stronger-than-expected fourth quarter earnings and issued a robust near-term outlook for the sector.

ASML said demand for its extreme ultraviolet lithography systems, or EUV, machines, which design complex chips used by, sector titans such as Samsung Electronics, Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor and cost as much as $120 million, would help overall sales grow more than 20% this year, easing concerns that a fire in one of its German-based factories would impact supplies.

ASML's bullish outlook follows a similar assessment from TaiwanSemi (TSM) - Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Reportthe world's biggest contract chipmaker and a lead supplier for Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Get Apple Inc. ReportiPhones, which posted record fourth quarter profits last week and boosted itscompound annual growth rate targets and capital spending plans.

Nvidia (NVDA) - Get NVIDIA Corporation Reportshares were marked 0.5% higher in pre-market trading Wednesday while Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - Get Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Reportgained 0.1% to $132.00 each. Intel (INTC) - Get Intel Corporation Reportwas marked 0.2% higher at $54.86 while Micron (MU) - Get Micron Technology, Inc. Report gained 0.85% to $93.65 each.

Former President Donald Trump was accused by the state of New York of using"fraudulent or misleading" asset valuations to obtain loans and tax deductions for his family organization.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said Trump, as well as his son Donald Jr. and daughter Ivanka, must provide sworn testimony as part of her investigation into the Trump Organization's financial affairs.

"Thus far in our investigation, we have uncovered significant evidence that suggests Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization falsely and fraudulently valued multiple assets and misrepresented those values to financial institutions for economic benefit," James said in a statement.

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Stocks Edge Higher, Ford Cashes In, 5G Rollout Pause, Bullish ASML And Donald Trump - 5 Things You Must Know - TheStreet

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LVMPD officials offer new details on third shooting by officers this year – KTNV Las Vegas

Posted: at 11:35 am

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) Officials with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department offered new information Tuesday about their investigation into the department's third shooting involving officers so far this year.

Initially, LVMPD officials said officers had shot a man who fired at them in the area of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sunset Road on Jan. 12. Evidence shows that was not the case, Assistant Sheriff Lazaro Chavez said on Tuesday.

Two LVMPD officers were getting gas at a station on the 6100 block of Las Vegas Boulevard at 10:42 p.m. when a vehicle pulled up next to theirs. A woman inside the car got the officers' attention and softly asked them for help, Chavez said.

PREVIOUS: Man shot by police on Las Vegas Boulevard

While the two officers, since identified as Dominic Lee and Zacahry Falldorf, tried to get more information from her, a man holding a gun got out of the car.

KTNV

Officers fired at and hit the man, since identified as 34-year-old Manuel Edwin Martinez.

"Our investigation revealed during the last several days that Martinez did not fire any rounds during the incident," Chavez said. Asked to clarify, Chavez said Martinez had pointed the gun at officers. Bullet casings that would match his Beretta 9mm handgun were not found at the scene, he said.

KTNV

After he was shot, Martinez ran into a nearby area of desert and was taken into custody there. He was transported to University Medical Center and has since been moved to Clark County Detention Center, Chavez said.

Investigators interviewed the woman who'd initially contacted the officers and were told she and Martinez previously dated but had been separated for about a year. He'd contacted her on Jan. 12 and asked her to take him to the hospital, Chavez said, but police were told that once she picked him up, he no longer wanted to go there. Chavez said the woman started to feel unsafe based on Martinez's behavior and some of the things he said. When she saw the officers getting gas, she pulled up to them and asked for help.

Lee and Falldorf were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the shooting. Both officers are assigned to the community policing division. Lee, 37, has been an officer with LVMPD since 2017. Falldorf, 32, has been with the department since 2018.

Martinez remains held in jail on charges of attempted murder, possession of a gun by a prohibited person, and kidnapping.

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Largest vintage motorcycle auction returning to Las Vegas this month – FOX5 Las Vegas

Posted: at 11:35 am

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Largest vintage motorcycle auction returning to Las Vegas this month - FOX5 Las Vegas

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Your Superguide to the week ahead in Las Vegas (January 20-26 edition) – Las Vegas Weekly

Posted: at 11:34 am

Thursday, January 20

Illustration: AP Photo

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens

PARTY: VICE10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

ARTS: THE CRAFT: THE UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODYThru 2/6, various times, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com.

COMEDY: MARSHA WARFIELDWith Daniel Simonsen, Tanael Joachim & Traci Skene, 7 & 9:30 p.m., thru 1/23, Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.

MISC: LECTURE: WHO KILLED MALCOLM X?7 p.m., Sahara West Library, & 1/21 at West Las Vegas Library, lvccld.org.

PARTY: DEEJAY AL10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, taolvnc.taogroup.com.

FOOD & DRINK: DISTILLS OPOLO VINEYARDS WINE DINNER7 p.m., 6945 S. Rainbow Blvd., eventbrite.com.

PARTY: GREG LOPEZ9:30 p.m., Foundation Room, houseofblues.com.

COMEDY: NICK GUERRA8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, tickets.thestrat.com.

SPORTS: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. MONTREAL CANADIENS7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

MUSIC: TYMARA WALKERThe term supper club is all over Las Vegas these days, equally applicable to fashionable restaurants with live entertainment on the Strip and upstart local listening rooms and lounges that add dining to the experience. The latest venue to use the label is a familiar entertainment space in Henderson. Formerly known as E-String Poker Bar, Gambit on Sunset Road includes a cocktail and gaming bar called the Bank, a hidden tequila-themed speakeasy known as 33 and the full-service Gatsbys, offering a classic dinner-and-show combo with a versatile menu and even more exciting roster of entertainers.

Starting off this weekend right is the wildly talented Tymara Walker (House of Blues Gospel Brunch, Michael Jackson One, Heartbreak Hotel) headlining a KUNV-sponsored Soul of Jazz evening of music, backed by The SOJ All Stars band. Walker has toured and performed with Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan, among others, and her vocal abilities deserve the biggest stage and brightest spotlight available. 6:30 p.m., $20-$280, 2031 W. Sunset Road, lvlivepresents.com. Brock Radke

Illustration: AP Photo

Fabolous

PARTY: FABOLOUS10 p.m., Drais Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

MUSIC: ADELE8 p.m., & 1/22, The Colosseum, caesars.com.

COMEDY: KATT WILLIAMS8 p.m., & 1/22, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

PARTY: STEVE AOKI10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, hakkasangroup.com.

MISC: GARRISON KEILLOR7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

MUSIC: FXP FT. FRANKY PEREZ & CHRISTIAN BRADY10 p.m., Counts Vampd, vampdvegas.com.

COMEDY: RON WHITE10 p.m., & 1/22, Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

PARTY: BREATHE CAROLINA10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

COMEDY: TONY HINCHCLIFFE7 & 9:30 p.m., & 1/22, Wiseguys, vegas.wiseguyscomedy.com.

PARTY: RL GRIME10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub wynnsocial.com.

MUSIC: MOTHER MERCURYWith Isolated Avenue, Crimson Riot & Future Vinyls, 9 p.m., Soul-Belly BBQ, brownpapertickets.com.

ARTS: TANGO ARGENTINA7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.

MUSIC: DAVID FOSTERConsidering that much of the music he has written and produced with superstars like Celine Dion, Michael Bubl, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Chicago has been performed for years up and down the Strip, it only makes sense for David Foster to have a show of his own in Las Vegasespecially since hes playing lots of that stuff while sharing stories about those artists and other aspects of his career. I love going there, and Ive seen so many shows there over the years, all the way back to Elvis back in the day, Foster says. Im hoping what I do is a good fit, because what could be better than traveling once a month to Vegas for four shows, coming from LA? I would love it. 8 p.m., $200+, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. Brock Radke

ARTS: FAITH JONES READING & SIGNINGUp until her early 20s, Faith Jones lived the stuff of nightmares. She grew up on an isolated commune among the Children of God, a religious cult her grandfather created in 1968 to prepare for the End Times. The cult grew exponentially over the years, amassing thousands of followers in more than 100 countries and even catching the attention of notable celebrities. Allegations of horrific abuse within the cult soon surfaced. At 23, Jones managed to escape the group and begin a new life. Today, shes a successful attorney and the author of the memoir Sex Cult Nun. Hear the inspiring survivor read passages about her time within the cult and how she took her life back. 7 p.m., free, the Writers Block, thewritersblock.org. Amber Sampson

Courtesy

Work by Joel Spencer

ARTS: LOCAL EXPLORATIONS OPENING RECEPTIONIt took a village to create the phantasmagorical world of Omega Mart at Area15. Now, 13 of those same brilliant minds will display their artwork in Local Explorations, a group exhibition at Core Contemporary Gallery inside the Historic Commercial Center District. Meow Wolf and Core Arts Concord will co-sponsor the show, and the newly opened Fort Bedlam Cafe will provide light refreshments. The participating artists are Avantarded, Kent Caldwell,6 p.m., free, Core Contemporary Gallery, 900 E. Karen Ave. #D222. Amber SampsonElliott Demlow, Nancy Good, Heather Hermann, Mila May, Jerry Misko, Jane Poynter, Brent Sommerhauser, Joel Spencer, Clarice Tara, Eric Vozzola and Valentin Yordanov. Experience the work of these Vegas-based talents at the opening reception on January 22, then return on February 12 for an artist discussion before the exhibit closes on February 26.

MISC: EVERYTHINGS COMING UP BARBARABarbara Dixon is a belter/hoofer in the tradition of Liza Minelli and Elaine Stritch. She performs classic Broadway tunes, tells lewd showbiz stories and, when the muse favors, has been known to cut a rug. (Google Barbaras Fosse Dance Tutorial, and be prepared to learn The Rich Mans Frug, Soft-Boiled Egg Hands and Baby Made of Noodles.) Everythings Coming Up Barbara, her autobiographical show, comes to Vegas following wildly successful runs in LA and New York, and just ahead of rumors that Dixon is actually writer and performer Leah Sprecher, a member of the acclaimed Groundlings troupe and a BroadwayWorld Person to Watch nominee. 8 p.m. & midnight, $35-$45, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com. Geoff Carter

PARTY: DIPLO10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

SPORTS: UNLV MENS BASKETBALL VS. SAN JOSE STATENoon, Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.

PARTY: JUICY J10 p.m., Drais Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

MUSIC: BRIAN MCKNIGHT8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

PARTY: BAD BOY BILL10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.

MUSIC: AUSTIN MEADE & KODY WEST8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventbrite.com.

PARTY: CEDRIC GERVAIS10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub,marqueelvnc.taogroup.com.

MUSIC: SMITH/KOTZEN7:30 p.m., Counts Vampd, eventbrite.com.

PARTY: COSMIC GATE9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, seetickets.us.

MUSIC: HIROSHIMA6 & 8:30 p.m., Myrons, thesmithcenter.com.

MUSIC: TOOLWith Blonde Redhead (below), 8 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

Antonio Agosto

Kalani Pea

PARTY: CRESPO10 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, marqueelvnc.taogroup.com.

MUSIC: KURT TRAVISWith Amarionette, Catbamboo, Sani Bronco, 8 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, brownpapertickets.com.

ARTS: LAS VEGAS SINFONIETTA: ALL-MOZART PROGRAM3 p.m., Clark County Library, eventbrite.com.

MUSIC: NIEVE MALANDRA7 p.m., the Underground, themobmuseum.org.

MUSIC: KALANI PEA3 p.m. & 7 p.m., Myrons, thesmithcenter.com.

Denise Truscello / Courtesy

Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal

MISC: MONDAYS DARK8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.

PARTY: WITCHY TIKI PARTY7 p.m., the Golden Tiki, thegoldentiki.com.

PARTY: OCEAN ROULETTE10 p.m., Oddwood, oddwoodbar.com.

COMEDY: ELEANOR KERRIGAN8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

MUSIC: WAYNE NEWTON: UP CLOSE AND PERSONALMr. Las Vegas is back at last, starting things up again at the legendary Las Vegas resort where he first achieved headliner status in the 1960s. Wayne Newton was originally slated to resume Up Close and Personal, his music-and-storytelling extravaganza, in October at the Flamingos intimate Bugsys Cabaret space, but his plans were delayed by a back injury. Hes back on track and ready to duplicate the success hes had in recent years at smaller Strip rooms at Caesars Palace and Ballys, focusing on audience interaction and his unique history. After opening night on January 24, Newton has a whole slew of shows on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays booked into June. 7 p.m., $66-$102, Bugsys Cabaret, ticketmaster.com. Brock Radke

Joan Marcus / Courtesy

My Fair Lady

PARTY: MIKEY FRANCIS10:30 p.m., Omnia, hakkasangroup.com

PARTY: TRUTH10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussylv.com.

MUSIC: THREE CHORD MONTE10 p.m., the Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.

ARTS: MY FAIR LADYThe Smith Centers Broadway Las Vegas series continues with Lincoln Center Theaters production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewes 1956 My Fair Lady. Bartlett Sher, the Tony award-winning director of this revival, removes the rom-com gloss that suffused the 1964 film versionthe version most people knowleaving what George Bernard Shaw laid down in his original 1913 play Pygmalion, from which My Fair Lady is adapted: a searing, witty take on class struggle, grooming and clueless misogyny. The songs, too, remainenduring classics like I Could Have Danced All Night, The Rain in Spain and Ive Grown Accustomed to Her Face. January 25-30, 7:30 p.m., additional 2 p.m. shows January 29-30; $30-$148, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. Geoff Carter

Ashley Seryn

The Marias

MUSIC: LIONEL RICHIE8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticket master.com.

MUSIC: SANTANA7 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.

MUSIC: MARISSA & THE HOLLENBACKS10 p.m., the Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com

MUSIC: THE MARIASThis LA-based indie pop band describes its sound as psychedelic soul, and its true; you can hear the influence of both of those sounds on The Marias gorgeous 2021 debut album, Cinema. (Thats also an appropriate description; their music would play brilliantly in films.) But theres a lot more than that happening in The Marias sound. Mara Zardoya delivers her slinky, pillow-soft vocals in both English and Spanish, and multi-instrumentalist Josh Conway produces beats that evoke both man and machine. Think Portishead, Tlpopmusik, Phantogramthe very best of trip-hop, evolved into something new and unexpected. With Maye. 8 p.m., $20. Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com. Geoff Carter

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Your Superguide to the week ahead in Las Vegas (January 20-26 edition) - Las Vegas Weekly

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The Jim Harbaugh Situation: Here’s What We Know – Wolverine Maven

Posted: at 11:34 am

Jim Harbaugh just went 12-2, beat up on Ohio State, trounced Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game and made an appearance in the College Football Playoff. He's due for a big raise and one is certainly coming, but will be at Michigan or somewhere in the NFL?

It feels like it's going to be Michigan or the Las Vegas Raiders right now, but teams like the Chicago Bears, the Stephen Ross-owned Miami Dolphins and even the New York Giants have been mentioned as well. In my opinion, it's between A2 and Sin City and that's it.

Here's what we know...

1. Jim Harbaugh is choice No. 1 for Mark Davis and the Las Vegas Raiders

I didn't know this to be true until yesterday evening when more than one person very close to the situation in Las Vegas told me it was the case. Before that, I knew there was interest from Davis and the Raiders, but I didn't actually know if Harbaugh was at the top of the list or merely on it. Knowing that Harbaugh is who Mark Davis wants makes the possibility of him ending up in Las Vegas much more realistic.

2. The Raiders firing Mike Mayock is a domino that needed to fall

It seemed possible that Harbaugh could end up in Vegas when Mayock was the general manager, but now that he's out, it feels borderline probable. Mayock was part of the Jon Gruden experiment that clearly didn't work out so with him gone, it's going to be a fresh start. I'm not sure if Harbaugh wants any GM responsibilities, but that's at least on the table now, as is the opportunity to be involved in helping find the next GM, or at least being on board with who is coming in. Current Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds has been talked about as Mayock's potential replacement, which is interesting since he used to work for the Raiders and Al Davis back in 2003. Another notable person was on that Raiders staff in 2003 as well Jim Harbaugh. With Mayock gone and Dodds as a candidate for the job, the whole situation with Harbaugh makes a lot more sense. Of course, Dodds is by no means a shoe in, but it's an interesting angle.

These two reasons are why I tweeted out my thoughts yesterday evening.

3. Mark Davis feels stuck

Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia took over for Gruden back in October and did a great job with a flailing franchise. In spite of the fallout with Gruden, the tragic situation with wide receiver Henry Ruggs and the release of cornerback Damon Arnette after an absurd video came out of him brandishing a gun and threatening people, Bisaccia steadied the ship and led the Raiders to the playoffs. He gained the respect of his peers and won over his players. Yet he's not viewed as a true head coach candidate. There are multiple jobs open in the NFL right now and none of them are considering the former special teams coach. Davis doesn't see Bisaccia as the long term solution but doesn't want to rock the boat and upset his players and staff by not hiring him, which would almost certainly result in his departure once a new regime comes in. Davis is truly between a rock and a hard place with Bisaccia whether Harbaugh is involved or not.

4. The timeline on both sides

Michigan beat Ohio State 51 days ago. On that day, athletic director Warde Manuel, everyone in the athletic department and maize and blue fans everywhere knew that Jim Harbaugh was in line for a restructured contract. All he did after that was destroy Iowa en route to a Big Ten title and compete in the College Football Playoff. At that time, he was (and still is)the 11th highest-paid coach in the Big Ten, which is unacceptable given what he just accomplished.He's at or near the top of his profession based on last season's performance and he needs to be compensated for it.Manuel and anyone else who needed to be involved could've whipped up a new contract at any point since then. Michigan obviously wants Harbaugh back, so if he wanted to be back, and he was completely uninterested in the NFL, it would be done and could've been done long ago.There's been plenty of time to rectify that, so that the fact that it hasn't been addressed certainly supports the notion that Harbaugh is waiting on something.

Then there's the Raiders' timeline. They obviously just lost in the playoffs last weekend, so not much time has passed, but things move incredibly fast in the NFL when it comes to coaching moves, usually. That fact that it's been slow going in Vegas makes it seem like something is afoot. A source close to the Raiders organization feels like Mark Davis istrying to work something out with Harbaugh and that talks about it may have started last month. The Raiders have been very deliberate and methodical with their head coaching interviews, which isn't typical, and only one name has been attached to the head coaching search beyond Bisaccia in Jerod Mayo. It's worth noting that interviewing Mayo would satisfy the Rooney Rule, which Davis botched in 2018 when he hired Gruden.

The way all of this is dragging out indicates that Harbaugh is definitely weighing options and trying to make the right decision.

5. Money is not going to be an issue

There are some who believe that Mark Davis and the Raiders won't offer enough to persuade Jim Harbaugh to leave Ann Arbor, but that's not the case per a source. Remember, Davis and the Raiders inked Jon Gruden to a 10 year, $100 million deal in 2018 when that really wasn't a thing. There are two or three coaches in the pros and in college making around $10 million per year right now and Harbaugh could become one of them if Davis wants him bad enough. He wouldn't bat an eye at that amount if that's truly what both sides want.

6. Sarah Harbaugh has ties to Las Vegas

Jim Harbaugh's wife, Sarah, used to live in Vegas and was a successful teacher and real estate agent while there per John U. Bacon. She was living there when she met Harbaugh in 2006 while he was in town for a coaching clinic and the two have essentially been together ever since. Any time there's familiarity with a place, it makes a move there easier. The Harbaughs' life is much different now than it was in 2006, as is Las Vegas, but that connection still makes it feel like an easier transition.

7. Jim Harbaugh loves Ann Arbor

This has never been questioned but it is worth noting as he tries to figure out his next move. Harbaugh spent some of his formative years in Ann Arbor, obviously played at the University of Michigan, has been back for seven years now and has put down a lot of roots in The Tree City. He has several school-aged children walking the halls of the same buildings he did as a child, has at least one kid enrolled at U-M, has his parents living next door to him and has a faction of the fan base who would support him no matter what. He's not going to be able to recreate that exactly in Vegas or anywhere else if he were to take a job in the NFL. That certainly carries some weight.

8. Jim Harbaugh is doing his job

This should come as no surprise as Harbaugh has always been a grinder and a worker. Even if he is considering a return to the NFL, there's no way he would just sit around and do no work while still employed as U-M's head coach with recruiting in full swing and open positions on his staff. Plus, even if Harbaugh was 90% sure he was going back to the NFL, that leaves a 10% chance he'd be back in Ann Arbor next year, in which case it's in his best interest to do his job and do it well even if he is leaning toward a move to the league. In the world of college football, you can't afford to go hours let alone weeks without doing your job. Harbaugh participating in recruiting and hiring Mike Elston as the new defensive line coach to replace Shaun Nua are not surefire signs that he'll be back in Ann Arbor next year. Landing a guy like Elston is certainly a great hire and an indicator that Harbaugh could remain at Michigan but it's not a guarantee.

9. Jim Harbaugh's message to everyone

Some of these points get a little murky because Jim Harbaugh hasn't told anyone reporting on any of these developments anything directly. It doesn't matter who your favorite Michigan media personality is, Harbaugh is not telling them and has not told them his plans for next year.

If you believe what Sam Webb says, and you should, then Harbaugh openly told the father of 2021 Michigan signee Darrius Clemons that he would listen to and entertain NFL opportunities. That's pretty cut and dry to me. The fact that so many disbelieving fans are hanging on to a narrative that Harbaugh is telling "everyone" that he'll be back next year and that leaving is not even a remote possibility is bizarre because Webb published quotes on the record to disprove it.

The same goes for current players.I kept seeing "reports" all over the place that Harbaugh has told the team that he's staying so I wondered if it really was addressed that directly. More than one player said that they hadn't personally heard anything and that other players also haven't heard anything from Harbaugh. If Harbaugh had even told a few players directly that he was coming back, every player would know. There's no way half the team could know his intentions while the other half was in the dark.

With that said, just like the hiring of Elston isn't a guarantee that Harbaugh will be back next year, Harbaugh not mentioning his exact plans to current players isn't a guarantee that he's gone. He's not obligated to sit the entire team down and reveal his plans. Coaching is a tough business and coaches make quick, surprising and even deceptive decisions all the time (see Brian Kelly, Mel Tucker and Nick Saban to name a few). I'm not saying Harbaugh is deceptive, because I don't believe him to be, but if he's really still figuring everything out, the approach with the team and recruits makes sense.

He could easily say to anyone that he plans to be in Ann Arbor next year because at that given moment, he probably does, while still understanding that the NFL is possible. That doesn't make him a liar or a cheat or a bad person.

10. Not a peep

Finally, the overall silence on this entire situation when it comes to players, parents, signees, recruits, commits, staffers, assistant coaches and Harbaugh himself is just wild if he has indeed made up his mind in either direction. In today's day and age of social media posts, leaked videos, screen-shotted messages and e-correspondences and up-to-the-minute press releases, no one directly involved with Michigan football has said a word publicly. Not one person who would actually know has directly or decisively said, "Jim Harbaugh is doing X next year," out in the open or even behind the scenes in a way that would prove what the head coach is going to do.

Not one Snapchat story from Ronnie Bell saying, "My coach is coming back next year, you guys are crazy." Not even one cryptic tweet from any of the assistant coaches. Not one reporter has gotten their hands on a private text message conversation between some staffers or players or recruits. Not one simple statement from Harbaugh or Michigan to quell all the rumors. Nada.

If the current and former players, along with high schoolers who are committed to or interested in Michigan know about Jim Harbaugh's intentions, how is it possible that NOTHING has leaked in any way, shape or form? Not only is that improbable, it's impossible.

These are all things we know. Harbaugh's definitive plans are clearly not on the list, which is why we're all digging, deciphering and deciding on our own.

Given all of this information, I feel like things are trending toward Harbaugh's return to the NFL. The timeline is so drawn out, Harbaugh's stock has never been higher and might never be this high again, stars seem to be aligning in terms of available coaches to potentially round out his staff (Pep Hamilton, Vic Fangio and others) and some of the only NFL jobs that would ever make sense for Harbaugh happen to be available right now.

The best scenario for Michigan is that an offer never comes from an NFL team or that Harbaugh simply decides of his own volition to stay at Michigan. I was critical of Harbaugh after last year and deservedly so. But now, he's proven that he can win at the highest level and he's the best man for the job in Ann Arbor. I don't know how all of this is going to play out, but it feels like Harbaugh to the NFL is really picking up steam. The crazy thing about all of this is, I don't know if Harbaugh himself knows what he's going to do right now.

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The Jim Harbaugh Situation: Here's What We Know - Wolverine Maven

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