Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 234

Mark Zuckerberg will cohost reception with Republican billionaires for Trump inauguration

By ZEKE MILLER and COLLEEN LONG

WASHINGTON (AP) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is cohosting a reception with billionaire Republican donors next week for Donald Trump’s inauguration, the latest sign of the Facebook founder’s embrace of the president-elect.

Related ArticlesNational Politics | Top DC prosecutor: Trump pardons couldn’t erase impact of Capitol riot convictions National Politics | How Biden’s domestic policy record stacks up against public perception National Politics | Trump says he will create an ‘External Revenue Service’ agency to collect tariff income National Politics | What to know from Pete Hegseth’s fiery confirmation hearing National Politics | Speaker Johnson orders US Capitol flags raised to full height for Trump’s inauguration The reception cohosted by Zuckerberg is set for Monday evening, shortly before the inaugural balls, according to two people familiar with the private plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss them.

The other cohosts are Miriam Adelson, the Dallas Mavericks owner and widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson; Tilman Fertitta, casino magnate, Houston Rockets owner and Trump’s pick to serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy; Todd Ricketts, the co-owner of the Chicago Cubs; and Ricketts’ wife, Sylvie Légère.

Zuckerberg once seemed a foe of the former president, banning him from Facebook and Instagram after a mob of Trump’s supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But lately, he’s been endearing himself to Trump as one of a number of tech executives who have been seeking to improve their relationships with the new president.

Meta declined to comment Tuesday.

In November, weeks after Trump won the presidential election, Zuckerberg flew to Florida and dined with the Republican at his Mar-a-Lago club. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.

Zuckerberg announced last week that he was changing Facebook and Instagram content moderation policies, including replacing third-party fact-checking with user-written “community notes.” Trump said the new approach was “probably” due to threats he made against the technology mogul.

Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in New York and Barbara Ortuay in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Top DC prosecutor: Trump pardons couldn’t erase impact of Capitol riot convictions

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pardoning rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol four years ago can’t erase the truth about what happened that day, the top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., said Tuesday as he prepares to leave office.

“There is no undoing these prosecutions,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves told The Associated Press. “The vindication of the rule of law is something that has already occurred. And no one can take that away.”

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President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to pardon Capitol rioters when he returns to the White House next week, but Graves said pardons can’t undo “the record that was built through these prosecutions and the accountability that has already been imposed.”

“There will always be a public record of what occurred on January 6th, and people who care to know the facts will be able to find out the facts,” Graves said.

Graves, who has faced a torrent of online abuse and calls for retribution from Trump supporters, said he has no plans to seek a pardon for himself before President Joe Biden leaves office.

“I don’t even begin to know what I could possibly be pardoned for as a prosecutor,” he added. “There is no crime here. There is just public servants doing their job and enforcing the law.”

Graves, who took office in November 2021, plans to step down Thursday ahead of Trump’s inauguration Monday. Trump has vowed to issue pardons to Capitol rioters on his first day back in the White House, repeatedly referring to them as “hostages” and “patriots.”

FILE – Violent rioters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

More than 1,500 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related crimes. Nearly 1,300 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a judge or jury after trials. And over 1,000 riot defendants have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving a term of imprisonment ranging from several days to 22 years.

Only two Capitol riot defendants have been acquitted of all charges — in both cases by a judge after a bench trial. Many Trump supporters have cited that as evidence that Washington juries can’t be fair and impartial.

Graves believes his office’s near-perfect conviction rate reflects the strength of their evidence. Many rioters used cellphones to record and narrate their crimes and posted confessions on social media in the days following their attack, which disrupted the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Trump to Biden after the 2020 election.

“This is the most recorded crime in the history of the country,” Graves said. “The evidence is just overwhelming in these cases. As someone who is a career prosecutor, it’s rare that you have this much evidence, which is why you’re seeing these outcomes.”

Over 100 police officers were injured while defending the Capitol from a mob of Trump supporters. Trump hasn’t specified whether he would pardon rioters who assaulted officers, but Vice President-elect JD Vance said during an interview televised Sunday that rioters who engaged in violence “obviously” shouldn’t be pardoned. Vance later said there was a “bit of a gray area” in some cases.

Graves said he doesn’t see any basis for a pardon or clemency in any Jan. 6 case. He also expressed confidence that the Justice Department can remain free from political interference.

“I came in as a career prosecutor during a Republican administration,” he said. “I’ve never seen a whiff of political interference in my time as a career prosecutor. I tend to believe past is prologue.”

Graves said combating violent crime in Washington has been his primary focus over the past three years. He believes his office’s efforts contributed to a 35% reduction in violent crime last year in the District of Columbia.

“Prosecutors can influence these crime trends. They don’t control them. There are a host of other actors that are involved,” he said.

Graves said he had planned to leave the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2025 no matter who won the presidential election. In the short term, he is looking forward to taking a vacation.

“And then I’m sure at some point I will transition back to (law) practice, but that’s all to be determined in the future,” he said.

Monterey Bay Aquarium workers announce unionization campaign

MONTEREY – A group of approximately 30 Monterey Bay Aquarium employees Tuesday announced their campaign to unionize in order, they said, to build a workplace that reflects the Aquarium’s core values.

“We are unionizing so we can have a voice in making our organization an even better place. We just celebrated our 40th anniversary and we really hope to make for 40 more wonderful years,” said Mika Okimura, a senior educational specialist at the Aquarium. “We want to have the framework for a growingly diverse staff and I think that we can help make that a reality.”

Taryn Cadena, an aquarist in animal care also echoed the desire to better support her coworkers at the event held in front of the Aquarium.

“What we’re hoping to do is to have a place at the table as a collective and to be able to better support my coworkers for things like better salaries, more flexible workplace hours and benefits,” Cadena said. “There are a myriad of things that I think would benefit my peers and everyone comes from different departments, unique points of view, unique circumstances and I think that having a place at the table to collectively support one another is the best route.”

Organized as Monterey Bay Aquarium Workers United, the employees are seeking representation through the Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 57. The union would cover over 300 of the Aquarium’s more than 500 workers in animal care, guest experience, education, marketing and more.

According to the union’s website (mbaworkersunited.org), the decision was “inspired by our 40th-anniversary milestone, we have united our voices to share this exciting movement.”

Okimura also spoke on the impact the Aquarium has had on them since childhood.

A group of approximately 30 Monterey Bay Aquarium employees announced their campaign to unionize on Tuesday. (Arianna Nalbach – Monterey Herald)

“I think as many people will tell you, I’ve been a part of the Aquarium family for so long,” Okimura said.  “I have a series of pictures from when I was a kid in our Splash Zone exhibit, it’s been in my heart for so long.”

The Monterey Bay Aquarium would not be the first aquarium to unionize. According to the  National Labor Relations Board, employees at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach also sought unionization in 2024.

“Monterey Bay Aquarium acknowledges that some of its staff members have expressed interest in exploring union representation. We recognize that unionization is a complex and important decision for any workplace,” read a press statement from the Aquarium. “We are committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with all staff members throughout this process, providing the information and opportunities for discussion to support their fully informed decision-making.

“We will continue to prioritize the well-being of our staff and the fulfillment of our mission as we navigate this conversation together,” read the statement.

Both Okimura and Cadena emphasized the importance of community support to the unionizers.

“Public support is really important to us,” said Cadena. “We’re here as a way to help inspire conservation of the ocean and with ocean conservation, it goes hand in hand with raising up the livelihoods of our neighbors, of our peers, and I really hope that public support and coworker support is there for us. I’m just really excited.”

“We have such incredible colleagues that are so passionate about the place we work and our intent is just to really strengthen that,” said Okimura. “By announcing today, we hope to connect with workers who we haven’t connected with already and just share the information and gather more support. We love to have the support of our colleagues and also our community.”

For more information or to sign the community support letter, head to https://mbaworkersunited.org/community-letter-support

MST gets $22M federal grant for SURF! Busway

Monterey-Salinas Transit will receive $22.17 million in federal funding to go toward construction of its bus rapid transit project between the cities of Marina and Sand City, it was announced Monday.

The funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grants Program for construction of the SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit project and is critical to ensuring full funding for this MST project. The FTA discretionary grant program funds transit capital investments including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars and bus rapid transit, such as the SURF! Busway project. The funding was made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) proposes to implement bus rapid transit between the cities of Marina, Sand City, Seaside, Monterey and Salinas. The project includes a six-mile dedicated busway along a former rail right-of-way parallel to Highway 1 with bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and a transit signal prioritization system along some segments. The SURF! Busway will run between Marina and Sand City with the northern terminus located at MST’s Marina Transit Exchange at Reservation and De Forest roads and the southern terminus located at Contra Costa Street in Sand City.

The SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit project stations will be built along publicly-owned rail line and within MST property. The rail line linked Monterey and San Francisco with passenger service from 1880 to 1971. In 2003, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County purchased the unused line from the Union Pacific for $9.3 million to preserve it as a transportation corridor for mass transportation purposes only with a grant from State Proposition 116 funds.

“MST Board of Directors is committed to connecting communities, creating opportunity and being kind to our planet, and this project meets all of those objectives,” said MST General Manager and CEO Carl Sedoryk in a press release. “For a little over five years, MST staff, our team of consultants, federal, state and local elected officials, advocates and stakeholders have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome which is an important milestone for us to finally start construction later this year.”

With the federal funding secured, and the remaining $25 million in state funding expected to be allocated in the coming months, the SURF! project is fully funded and is expected to break ground this spring, according to MST.

“Working families and essential workers in Monterey County spend too much time, money and opportunities stuck in traffic,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, in a release. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this federal investment in the SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit project will deliver sustainable, efficient and reliable transportation solutions for our home and for our families during their commutes. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues at every level of government to secure this critical funding for Monterey-Salinas Transit, protect our environment and support economic growth throughout the Central Coast.”

Bus service on the bus-only lane will allow passengers using Salinas-Monterey Line 20, MST’s second-most used transit line, and all other bus service traveling between Salinas, Marina, Seaside, Sand City and Monterey, to quickly travel past Highway 1 traffic. Riders traveling by bus on the new busway and other transit services that connect to Line 20 will have better access to Cal State Monterey Bay, the VA/DoD clinic, beach access to Fort Ord Dunes State Park, the Dunes on Monterey Bay development and military neighborhoods.

“Affordable mass transit options allow our local and regional economies to thrive – ensuring people can safely access jobs, schools, stores and more,” said Rep. Lofgren in a release. “This federal funding supporting MST’s Bus and Bus Rapid Transit project will help improve access to rapid transit, reduce congestion on our roads, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. It’s good news all around, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this federal investment will have on our communities and environment.”

Monterey firefighters lend a hand in Southern California

The Monterey Fire Department sent eight firefighters and two engines to Southern California as part of a larger county effort to help contain the fires in Los Angeles County. The effort involves 10 engines from various agencies including firefighters from the Monterey County Regional Fire District, North County Fire and Salinas to name a few.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Palisades Fire was at 17 percent containment and the Eaton Fire was at 35 percent containment.

Patrick Moore, assistant chief for the Monterey Fire Department said it’s not uncommon for Monterey firefighters to make trips across the state to help other cities, but it’s usually not in the middle of January.

“This is not atypical, though we usually help out during the summer months,” Moore said. “We’re always happy to help our neighbors the best we can and we hope that if there’s an incident here, that we’d receive those resources from throughout the state as well.”

Helping out comes with its challenges. The Monterey Fire Department is currently operating with a smaller staff. However, the department remains confident that service levels will not be affected.

“It’s less people that can backfill our engines in case people are out on sick leave or vacations, so it does affect us that way, but we’re doing fine,” Moore said. “We have plenty of people here to work and all of our engines are staffed locally so we’re at a good level right now.”

There’s no set timeline for when firefighters will be able to return home yet, but the department tries to rotate firefighters to help avoid burnout and injuries.

“It’s kind of day-by-day right now. Typically for an out-of-county assignment, they’ll rotate crews after about two weeks, but that’s subject to change based on the incident,” Moore said. “For example, because of the severity of this incident (firefighters) are putting in long hours and longer shifts so we could potentially see them be rotated out sooner because of how taxing it’s been for them.”

California has mobilized more than 15,000 personnel including firefighters, guard service members, highway patrol officers and transportation teams to support the ongoing firefight according to a press release from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

In addition, these response efforts include more than 1,700 pieces of firefighting apparatus, including 1,350 engines, 80 aircraft, 150 bulldozers and 160 water tenders to aid in putting out the fires.

How to avoid the online booking fees charged by some discount airlines

By Akiya Dillon, Las Vegas Review-Journal (TNS)

LAS VEGAS — Some budget airlines charge extra fees when you book a flight online. However, when you book in person, these charges are waived.

So, if you want to save money, go to the airline’s ticket counter at the airport and speak with an associate who can waive these fees when you book your trip in person. All you need is an ID, where you wish to fly, and when.

Though this tip can yield savings of nearly $50 on round-trip flights, it also comes with some stipulations, including limited counter hours for some airlines.

Here’s a look at the online booking fees that a few of the nation’s discount airlines charge:

Sun Country Airlines

Once you reach the checkout page while purchasing a flight on suncountry.com, you may notice something called the “Passenger Interface Charge” in the price breakdown. The charge was first introduced in April 2022, and though it may take on various names, it is common among low-cost airlines, said a spokesperson for Sun Country Airlines.

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As is the case for other airlines like Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Breeze Airways, the charge is assessed when a customer makes a reservation online or through the airline’s call center.

This means that if you purchase one nonstop round-trip ticket, you may be charged $44 on top of the base airfare cost. If you travel with multiple passengers or have layovers, these fees can add up.

For example, if you want to travel as a family of four on nonstop flights — or even as a couple with connections on both departing and returning flights — booking online could rack up nearly $200 in fees.

Per regulations enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines must have an option where customers can avoid these charges. This is where buying a ticket in person can be worthwhile.

Allegiant Air

At Allegiant Air, the online booking fee goes by the name of an “Electronic Carrier Usage Charge.” It follows similar rules as Sun Country Airlines: $22 per passenger, per segment to be billed on top of base airfare.

Stephanie Garibay, a spokesperson for the company, said that passengers who buy tickets at the airport do not pay this fee. Still, Garibay said, “a small number” of passengers use this method.

“Allegiant does not sell tickets on third-party platforms,” Garibay said in an email. “And we do not partner with online travel agencies such as Expedia or Travelocity. This is a fundamental aspect of our business model and allows us to offer industry-low fares. The most up-to-date fares, times and routes can only be found on our website.”

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines, according to the company’s website, adds a “Carrier Interface Charge” that can be as high as $23 per passenger per flight segment. The fee is billed on both standard and Discount Den — Frontier’s annual membership program — fares.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines lists its “Passenger Usage Charge” under the optional services page on Spirit.com. According to this, the fee ranges from $3.99 to $22.99 for each leg of a trip and applies to bookings created “online, at international airports or via reservation centers.”

Breeze Airways

Flights booked online with Breeze Airways include a “Technology Development Charge.”

Lukas Johnson, Breeze Airways’ chief commercial officer, said that customers can often save on their reservations by booking directly at the airport, where this charge can be waived. However, Johnson added, this method is not always the best way to save.

“To qualify, Guests must purchase their tickets at the ticket counter between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. PT on Tuesdays,” Johnson said in an email.

©2024 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Oscars push back nominations announcement amid California wildfires

By LINDSEY BAHR

The Oscar nominations are being pushed back almost a week from their original date amid the ongoing California wildfires. Nominations will now be announced on Jan. 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday.

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With fires still active in the Los Angeles area, the film academy also extended the nominations voting period for its members through Friday. Originally, nominations were to be announced that morning.

The organization that puts on the Oscars has also made the decision to cancel its annual nominees luncheon, an untelevised event best known for the “class photos” it produces annually. The Scientific and Technical Awards, previously set for Feb. 18, will be rescheduled later.

Also Monday, the Writers Guild of America postponed the announcement of their nominees “until further notice.” Originally scheduled for Jan. 9, the nominations were first delayed until Monday before a second postponement. That ceremony is slated for Feb. 15.

The 97th Oscars will still happen on March 2, at the Dolby Theatre, with a live television broadcast on ABC beginning at 7 p.m. ET and a livestream on Hulu.

Oscar nominations were postponed in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ceremony itself was also delayed, which had happened several times before: The ceremony was pushed back a week because of disastrous flooding in Los Angeles in 1938.

In 1968, it was delayed two days following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And in 1981, it was put off for 24 hours after President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington. The 1981 decision was made four hours before the broadcast was scheduled to begin.

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, faces crucial test at confirmation hearing

By LISA MASCARO and TARA COPP, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is heading into a potentially explosive confirmation hearing Tuesday as senators question whether the former combat veteran and TV news show host is fit to lead the U.S. military.

Hegseth’s former experience in the Army National Guard is widely viewed as an asset for the job, but he also brings a jarring record of past statements and actions, including allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and derisive views about women in military combat roles, minorities and “woke” generals. He has vowed to not drink alcohol if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon.

He is among the most endangered of Trump’s Cabinet choices, but GOP allies are determined to turn Hegseth into a cause célèbre for Trump’s governing approach amid the nation’s culture wars. Outside groups, including those aligned with the Heritage Foundation, are running costly campaigns to prop up Hegseth’s bid.

“He will be ripped, he will be demeaned. He will be talked about,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., at an event with former Navy SEALs, Army special forces and Marines supporting the nominee. “But we’re going to get him across the finish line.”

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The hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee is the start of a weeklong marathon as senators begin scrutinizing Trump’s choices for more than a dozen top administrative positions. The Republican-led Senate is rushing to have some of Trump’s picks ready to be confirmed as soon as Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, despite potential opposition to some from both sides of the aisle.

“We’re going to grind them down,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said on Fox News.

Hegseth faces perhaps the most difficult path to confirmation. He will be forced to confront allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied, and his own comments that are far from the military mainstream, though he has the support of some veterans’ groups that say his past indiscretions are not as important as his focus on improving military readiness to fight.

And Hegseth will have to answer for his comments that women should “straight up” not be in combat roles in the military, a view he has softened following recent meetings with senators. Two former female combat veterans, Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa and Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, are among those grilling him from the dais.

“He can try to walk back his comments on women in combat all he wants, but we know what he thinks, right?” said Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm when the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting in the Army National Guard was shot down. “He’s the most unqualified person to ever be nominated for secretary of defense.”

Many senators have not yet met with Hegseth and most do not have access to his FBI background check, as only committee leaders are briefed on its findings. The background check on Hegseth did not appear to probe or produce new information beyond what’s already in the public realm about him, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it.

In many ways, the Hegseth hearing is expected to follow the template set during Trump’s first term, when one of his choices for Supreme Court justice, Brett Kavanaugh, came under intense scrutiny over allegations of sexual assault from his teens but recouped to win confirmation to the high court.

Kavanaugh vigorously fought back during a volcanic 2018 hearing, portraying the sexual assault allegations against him as a smear job by liberal lawmakers and outside groups opposed to his judicial record, turning the tables in a way that many senators credit setting a new benchmark for partisanship.

Asked about advice for Hegseth, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, referred to that earlier example.

“Go back and watch videos of the Kavanaugh hearings — give you a flavor,” he said.

Hegseth was largely unknown on Capitol Hill when Trump tapped him for the top Pentagon job.

A co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend,” he had been a contributor with the network since 2014, and apparently caught the eye of the president-elect, who is an avid consumer of television and the news channel, in particular.

Hegseth, 44, attended Princeton and served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011 and earning two Bronze Stars. But he lacks senior military and national security experience.

In 2017, a woman told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her, according to a detailed investigative report recently made public. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and told police at the time that the encounter at a Republican women’s event in California was consensual. He later paid the woman a confidential settlement to head off a potential lawsuit.

Hegseth also came under scrutiny amid reports of excessive drinking when he worked at a veterans’ organization. But as he began meeting privately with GOP senators ahead of the hearing, he promised he would not drink if confirmed to the post.

If confirmed, Hegseth would take over a military juggling an array of crises on the global stage and domestic challenges in military recruitment, retention and ongoing funding.

In addition to being a key national security adviser to the president, the defense secretary oversees a massive organization, with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of roughly $850 billion.

He is responsible for tens of thousands of U.S. troops deployed overseas and at sea, including in combat zones where they face attacks, such as in Syria and Iraq and in the waters around Yemen. The secretary makes all final recommendations to the president on what units are deployed, where they go and how long they stay.

His main job is to make sure the U.S. military is ready, trained and equipped to meet any call to duty. But the secretary also must ensure that American troops are safe and secure at home, with proper housing, healthcare, pay and support for programs dealing with suicide, sexual assault and financial scams.

Pentagon chiefs also routinely travel across the world, meeting with international leaders on a vast range of security issues including U.S. military aid, counterterrorism support, troop presence and global coalition building. And they play a key role at NATO as a critical partner to allies across the region.

Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

Special counsel who investigated Trump says his team ‘stood up for the rule of law’

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, ERIC TUCKER and COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith said his team “stood up for the rule of law” as it investigated President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, writing in a much-anticipated report released Tuesday that he stands fully behind his decision to bring criminal charges he believes would have resulted in a conviction had voters not returned Trump to the White House.

“The throughline of all of Mr. Trump’s criminal efforts was deceit — knowingly false claims of election fraud — and the evidence shows that Mr. Trump used these lies as a weapon to defeat a federal government function foundational to the United States’ democratic process,” the report states.

The report, arriving just days before Trump is to return to office on Jan. 20, focuses fresh attention on his frantic but failed effort to cling to power in 2020. With the prosecution foreclosed thanks to Trump’s election victory, the document is expected to be the final Justice Department chronicle of a dark chapter in American history that threatened to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, a bedrock of democracy for centuries, and complements already released indictments and reports.

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Trump responded early Tuesday with a post on his Truth Social platform, claiming he was “totally innocent” and calling Smith “a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election.” He added, “THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN!!!”

Trump had been indicted in August 2023 on charges of working to overturn the election, but the case was delayed by appeals and ultimately significantly narrowed by a conservative-majority Supreme Court that held for the first time that former presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.

Though Smith sought to salvage the indictment, the team dismissed it entirely in November because of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face federal prosecution.

“The Department’s view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a President is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Office stands fully behind,” the report states. “Indeed, but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.”

The Justice Department transmitted the report to Congress early Tuesday after a judge refused a defense effort to block its release. A separate volume of the report focused on Trump’s hoarding of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, actions that formed the basis of a separate indictment against Trump, will remain under wraps for now.

Though most of the details of Trump’s efforts to undo the election are already well established, the document includes for the first time a detailed assessment from Smith about his investigation, as well as a defense by Smith against criticism by Trump and his allies that the inquiry was politicized or that he worked in collaboration with the White House — an assessment he called “laughable.”

“While we were not able to bring the cases we charged to trial, I believe the fact that our team stood up for the rule of law matters,” Smith wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland attached to the report. “I believe the example our team set for others to fight for justice without regard for the personal costs matters.”

The special counsel also laid out the challenges it faced in its investigation, including Trump’s assertion of executive privilege to try to block witnesses from providing evidence, which forced prosecutors into sealed court battles before the case was charged.

Another “significant challenge” was Trump’s “ability and willingness to use his influence and following on social media to target witnesses, courts, prosecutors,” which led prosecutors to seek a gag order to protect potential witnesses from harassment, Smith wrote.

“Mr. Trump’s resort to intimidation and harassment during the investigation was not new, as demonstrated by his actions during the charged conspiracies,” Smith wrote.

“A fundamental component of Mr. Trump’s conduct underlying the charges in the Election Case was his pattern of using social media — at the time, Twitter — to publicly attack and seek to influence state and federal officials, judges, and election workers who refused to support false claims that the election had been stolen or who otherwise resisted complicity in Mr. Trump’s scheme,” he added.

Smith also for the first time explained the thought process behind his team’s prosecution decisions, writing that his office decided not to charge Trump with incitement in part because of free speech concerns, or with insurrection because he was the sitting president at the time and there was doubt about proceeding to trial with the offense — of which there was no record of having been prosecuted before.

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to the report.

Horoscopes January 14, 2025: LL Cool J, don’t waste time

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dave Grohl, 56; Jason Bateman, 56; LL Cool J, 57; Holland Taylor, 82.

Happy Birthday: Your ideas will be on target, and your ability to rise above setbacks will help you achieve your goals this year. A lifestyle change will help to broaden your spectrum regarding what’s possible and energize your spirit to bring about positive results. Trust your instincts when dealing with investments, purchases and professional goals. Take time out to enjoy nature and unique pastimes you can share with someone you love. Your numbers are 8, 15, 24, 26, 32, 39, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You must bend to appease others. Listen attentively, but don’t sign up for anything you cannot afford or that doesn’t fit into your schedule. Contribute to something that interests you, but don’t back yourself into a corner trying to be a superhero. Put your needs first. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pondering your next move or pending domestic change will not help you reach your goal. Consider your reputation, your ability to convince others to pitch in and help, and how much you are willing to do and spend out of pocket, and follow through. Take responsibility and forge ahead. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Slow down, rethink your motives and size up what’s doable. Too much of anything will lead to trouble and loss. Be careful not to let anyone lead you astray or exploit your lack of insight or facts. Focus on learning all you can before you commit. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let your creative imagination lead the way, and you’ll find an outlet for your skills, experience and knowledge. A chance to get involved in a joint venture will enhance your relationship with someone you deem special. Love and romance are on the rise, and a commitment looks promising. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Emotions will escalate, and a desire for change will dominate your mind. Before you jump into something that appears new and exciting, consider whether there is a downside to your plans. Clarity is necessary to avoid a financial loss or health risk. Verify facts and figures before you proceed. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll feel uncertain trying to choose a direction. Consider what’s important to you before you try to take on too much. Revisit logistics and expenses, set a budget and get a plan in place. Change can be good if it’s well thought out. A change of scenery will clear your head. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stop, listen and defend your rights. Refrain from letting anyone railroad you into something you don’t agree with or want to pursue. Create opportunities that are in your best interest. Apply your energy to a domestic change worth your while, not to please someone else. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Do whatever makes you happy. Sign up for a class that offers insight into better health and fitness or that brings you in touch with someone you want to get to know better. It’s time to expand friendships, look for love and take better care of your emotional well-being. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You know how to play the game, so don’t let anyone cheat or undermine your intelligence. Ask questions and make choices that look out for your best interests. Communication will lead you astray; when in doubt, be direct, and don’t let anyone talk down to you or make decisions for you. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t waste time: Say what’s on your mind, and you’ll resolve issues quickly. Being efficient and completing things on time will influence how and who you impress. It’s okay to be different, so speak up, push forward with vigor and enjoy the rewards. A personal pick-me-up will build confidence. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Spend time sorting through what you have and no longer need or use. Clearing space will give you a sense of accomplishment and bring in extra cash for items sold and a feel-good experience. Paying it forward will lead to a unique idea and a financial opportunity. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Hesitation is the enemy. Less talk and more action will help you keep up with your responsibilities. How organized you are will determine if you can maintain a good reputation with those who matter most to you and your prospects’ success. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are deliberate, confident and ambitious. You are underestimated and proficient.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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