Donald Trump’s lawyers urge the judge to throw out his hush money case after prosecution rests
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s lawyers have pressed the judge overseeing his hush money trial to stop the case from going to the jury and throw out the charges. The defense request came Monday after prosecutors concluded their presentation of evidence. Judge Juan M. Merchan did not immediately rule on the request. It was made at the end of a busy day that included the judge briefly kicking reporters out of the courtroom after he admonishing a defense witness for his behavior on the witness stand. The trial will resume Tuesday with more testimony from Robert Costello, who Trump’s lawyers called to the stand to attack the credibility of prosecutors’ star witness, Michael Cohen.
War crimes prosecutor seeks arrest of Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
JERUSALEM (AP) — The chief prosecutor of the world’s top war crimes court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court on Monday accused Netanyahu, his defense minister, and three Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. The announcement was a symbolic blow that deepened Israel’s isolation over the war in Gaza. Israeli leaders condemned the move as disgraceful and antisemitic. Hamas also rejected the accusations. A panel of judges will consider the prosecutor’s evidence and decide whether to issue the arrest warrants and allow a case to proceed.
What is the ICC and why it is considering arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court could soon issue arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas more than seven months into their war. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday that he is seeking warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and three Hamas leaders. Khan said that they are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. The ICC was established in 2002 as the permanent court of last resort to tackle impunity for war crimes, genocide and other grave crimes when states don’t prosecute those responsible.
What’s next for Iran’s government after death of its president in helicopter crash?
JERUSALEM (AP) — The death of Iran’s president is unlikely to lead to any immediate changes in Iran’s ruling system or to its overarching policies, which are decided by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But Ebrahim Raisi was seen as a prime candidate to succeed the 85-year-old supreme leader. His death Sunday in a helicopter crash makes it more likely that the job could eventually go to Khamenei’s son. A hereditary succession would pose a potential crisis of legitimacy for the Islamic Republic, which was established as an alternative to monarchy but which many Iranians already see as a corrupt and dictatorial regime.
Top U.S. drug agency a notable holdout in Biden’s push to loosen federal marijuana restrictions
The Biden administration’s push to reclassify marijuana as a less-dangerous drug is going forward without the support of the nation’s premier narcotics agency. Newly released government records show the Drug Enforcement Administration requested more information on supporting science to reclassify marijuana but the Justice Department decided to move ahead without the drug agency’s signoff. Longtime observers of the DEA say politics may be at play, contending the Justice Department is moving forward because President Joe Biden wants to use the pot issue to woo voters in his re-election campaign. The White House has said Biden pledged in 2020 to ease restrictions on marijuana.
The White House says FDIC chairman to step down following report on agency’s toxic workplace culture
NEW YORK (AP) — The chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will step down from his post once a successor is appointed. The White House said Monday that President Joe Biden will name a replacement for Martin Gruenberg “soon” and called for the Senate to quickly confirm the person’s nomination. Gruenberg’s announced departure comes after a damning report about the agency’s toxic workplace culture was released earlier this month and political pressure from the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, who called for his resignation earlier Monday.
Haiti’s main international airport reopens nearly three months after gang violence forced it closed
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s main international airport has reopened for the first time in nearly three months after gang violence forced authorities to close it. The reopening of the Toussaint-Louverture airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince is expected to help ease a critical shortage of medications and other basic supplies. The country’s main seaport remains badly affected. Gangs control 80% of the capital. U.S.-based airlines are not expected to start using the airport until late May or early June. In recent weeks, U.S. military planes have landed with civilian contractors to help Haiti prepare for the arrival of foreign forces expected to help quell the violence.
Tugboats escort ship that caused deadly Baltimore bridge collapse back to port
BALTIMORE (AP) — The container ship that caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge was slowly escorted back to port. The Dali had remained at the collapse site since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns in March. The disaster killed six construction workers and snarled traffic into Baltimore Harbor. Five tugboats escorted the Dali back to its marine terminal Monday. Pieces of the bridge’s steel trusses still protrude from the ship’s bow, which remains covered in mangled concrete from the collapsed roadway. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore praised the cleanup and recovery for “achieving in a matter of weeks what many thought would take months.”
Iran’s president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s foreign minister have been found dead hours after their helicopter crashed in fog. That leaves the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly named a little-known vice president as caretaker Monday. The supreme leader has the final say in the Shiite theocracy. He insisted the government was in control, but the deaths mark yet another blow to a country beset by pressures both at home and abroad. Iran has offered no cause for the crash nor suggested sabotage brought down the helicopter. It fell in mountainous terrain in a sudden, intense fog.
Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended war crimes charges in Israel-Hamas war
Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended that the chief prosecutor of the world’s top war crimes court seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of the militant Hamas group. The human rights lawyer and wife of actor George Clooney announced her participation in a letter posted Monday on the website of the couple’s Clooney Foundation for Justice. Clooney said she was part of a panel of international legal experts assisting International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan. Khan announced the decision to seek the arrests on Monday. Both Israel and Hamas denounced the effort. U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the request to arrest Israeli officials.