Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Wednesday, May 8, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and today, we‘ll jump right into former President Donald Trump’s ongoing legal battles, including his willingness to face jail time over contempt of court and updates from his “hush-money” case. We’ll also take a look at a groundbreaking Norwegian study that highlights the significant benefits of banning cellphones in schools.
Trump Says He’s Willing to Go to Jail After Judge’s Contempt of Court Order
The former president is in hot water after a New York judge pointed out he could face jail time for breaking a gag order. This order restricts him from making public comments about certain individuals involved in his ongoing trial.President Trump expressed his willingness to go to jail, stating that the Constitution is more important.
However, prosecutors say that they don’t want Judge Juan Merchan to incarcerate President Trump, as they’re concerned that it would shift focus away from the trial’s core issues.
But the judge pointed out that fines haven’t been effective in deterring President Trump and mentioned considering jail as a possible sanction.
He said: “So as much as I do not want to impose a jail sanction, I want you to understand that I will, if necessary and appropriate.”
President Trump was found to have violated the gag order in an interview where he criticized the jury selection process.
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, told reporters that the Rikers Island facility is “prepared” if President Trump is ordered to be jailed.
A Secret Service spokesperson reiterated to The Epoch Times on Tuesday that if the former president is jailed, the agency has to provide protection under federal law. However, the spokesperson did not give any specific details on what that would look like.
President Trump is facing 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records during the 2016 campaign. Witnesses, including former Trump Organization officials, have testified in the trial.
Federal Judge Suspends Key Deadline in Classified Documents Case Against Trump
Here’s the reason behind the change in this extremely important case.Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely postponed a deadline in President Trump’s case after the special prosecutor’s team admitted that evidence was rearranged. Her paperless order relates to the Classified Information Procedures Act, which governs how potentially sensitive material and expert testimony are to be handled during the trial. The judge didn’t specify why the deadline was postponed or when it might be rescheduled.
This postponement could significantly push back the trial date, a situation brought up by both President Trump’s legal team and the special prosecutors who warn that sorting out the handling of classified materials could take months.
Mr. Smith’s team revealed in court filings last week that the order of documents in an evidence box may have been rearranged after a special master was appointed in the case and reviewed the materials, noting that they may have misled the court in a previous filing.
Legal experts are now suggesting that it’s unlikely the trial will commence before the 2024 election, where President Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president.
President Trump’s lawyers are raising serious concerns, accusing the special prosecutor’s team of violating constitutional and ethical standards by not fully disclosing this rearrangement of evidence.
Meanwhile, the former president has separately filed multiple motions to dismiss charges against him in Florida. The judge has already denied two of his motions.
Two individuals associated with President Trump’s estate have also been charged with obstruction, and all three have pleaded not guilty.
Stormy Daniels Takes Witness Stand in Trump Trial as Judge Scolds Prosecutors
As a key witness, Ms. Daniels appeared on the stand in the “hush money” case, and she claimed to have had an affair with President Trump in 2006, which he denies.The trial is about whether President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Ms. Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about the alleged affair during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Prosecutors argue that the payments were falsely labeled and interfered with the election.
President Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and argues that the trial is an attempt to hinder his current campaign.
Ms. Daniels testified that President Trump suggested she go on his television show, “Celebrity Apprentice,” but President Trump’s lawyers claim it was Ms. Daniels who was seeking a role in the show. Ms. Daniels also mentioned meeting President Trump during a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in July 2006.
The presiding judge, Juan Merchan, allowed Ms. Daniels to share the core details of her alleged encounter with President Trump, despite some resistance from President Trump’s legal team. The former president, who is currently under a gag order, has criticized the judge for bias and has accused Ms. Daniels and Mr. Cohen of seeking media attention.
In a letter, Ms. Daniels initially denied the affair, but later changed her story, and during a televised interview, she claimed that the affair actually did happen. Her former attorney, Michael Avenatti, now in prison, believes she’s lying for publicity.
Judge Denies Trump Lawyer’s Motion for Mistrial in ‘Hush-Money’ Case
In the ongoing “hush-money” case, President Trump’s lawyer has made a bid for a mistrial.In the Manhattan court on Tuesday, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche said that Ms. Daniels’s claims about her encounter and alleged affair with President Trump in 2006 are different from the claims she made in previous years. He also said that her testimony has nothing to do with the case, where President Trump is accused of falsifying business records, and that her comments are designed to prejudice the jury.
However, the judge has dismissed this request for a mistrial. The prosecution disagreed with the defense’s claims and said that Ms. Daniels’s testimony is “not new” and is crucial for evaluating “her credibility.” Meanwhile, President Trump has taken to social media to voice his support for a mistrial.
Although Judge Merchan has rejected the mistrial motion, he did concede that Ms. Daniels’s demeanor was unpredictable and admitted that some of the questions posed to her should have been avoided.
This Is What Happened After Several Schools Banned Cellphones
A recent study from Norway reveals some compelling benefits of banning cellphones in schools.According to the research, which analyzed data from 2010 to 2018, implementing cellphone bans led to improvements in academic performance and a lower need for counseling among students. The study found that girls reaped the most benefits from these bans. There was a noticeable decrease in mental health issues among female students and a reduction in bullying for both genders.
However, the study noted that the bans did not significantly impact boys’ mental health or academic performance.
In the United States, there’s no uniform national policy on smartphone use in schools, but many individual schools have set their own restrictions. By the way, a recent survey shows that only 32 percent of parents are in favor of phone bans in schools.
Some states and school districts have taken more decisive actions, with Florida leading the way as the first state to implement a statewide ban on phones during class time. Other states like Ohio, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Kansas have also passed laws to curb phone use in schools, leading to improved student engagement and behavior.
As technology continues to integrate into educational settings, the debate around its appropriate use becomes more important. Bill Wilson, a school superintendent in Colorado, predicts that smartphone bans in schools are likely to become more widespread across the country, as more districts recognize the potential benefits for student well-being and academic success.
And I mention that because coming up on July 14, just a couple of months away, the price of postage stamps goes up from 68 cents to 73 cents. So, clearly, email is the quickest and most affordable way to check-in.
Also, at some point today, if you could tell a couple of people you know about our program and help us spread the message, that would be a big help because we are working overtime every day to grow our News Brief family.
Finally, as we do each and every day on the News Brief program, we wrap things up with a very “notable” quote:
It was Mae West who said, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
Mae West was a legendary American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright whose career spanned over seven decades.
Interesting fact: Her likeness was used on the front cover of the Beatles’ 1967 album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” A total of 58 people adorn that now world-famous cover, and if the Beatles like you, you must be doing something right.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas, thanks for being here today and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow for another edition of the Epoch Times News Brief. Have a stellar day today.
