Capitol rioter who tried to join Russian army is sentenced to prison for probation violation

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Augie standouts, locals earn all-region honors

NoneNeed help with filling out your fantasy football seasonal lineups for Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season? You probably do with six teams on bye this week — Falcons, Bills, Bengals, Saints, Jets and Jaguars. Vinnie Iyer is here for you again, back with another edition of the Decider, a unique blend of positional rankings and start ‘em, sit ‘em advice. Let's get into breaking down the best and worst plays in redraft based on matchups, usage, and other factors, plus some good price values to target in DFS. Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks Regular starts Stronger starts 9. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (at CAR): Mahomes dropped in three TDs last week vs. the Bills and should lead a big scoring output in a road rout of the Panthers 10. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (vs. NE): Tua is trending up with his key receivers and can keep it going vs. a struggling Patriots pass defense. 11. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG): The Giants give up a ton of big pass plays, and he should have Mike Evans back. 12. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (vs. TEN): By the numbers, this looks like a spot to keep slumping, but the Titans were burned plenty by the Vikings last week. 13. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE): He didn't destroy the Ravens' bad pass defense last week with some red zone woes, but now he gets a team he can rip with Moonballs deep downfield. 14. Anthony Richardson, Colts (vs, DET): He can compile some favorable rushing and passing garbage production at home. 15. Drake Maye, New England Patriots (at MIA): He just keeps a finding a way to make enough fantasy-friendly plays despite turnovers. WEEK 12 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers DFS pick Tommy DeVito, New York Giants (vs. TB, $4,000 on DraftKings, $6,000 on FanDuel): It might be difficult to trust DeVito in seasonal as a QB1 starting this week, but of course he has some lineup appeal in two-QB and Superlex. The Buccaneers are a giving pass defense, and he has the weapons to do damage, plus he's at home and may need volume opposite Mayifleld. The ROI is too good to pass up to get 3X or 4X return, even if there might be some higher than expected ownership. Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks Weaker starts 16. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs. SF): Love has not put up pleasing fantasy stats of late, and the Niners' D won't let him break out of it. 17. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (vs. PHI): He can be OK here with volume opposite Hurts, but they should run more on the Eagles, and it's hard to expect more than 2 TDs with limited yardage. 18. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI): Jonathan Gannon's defense is playing well, so don't go chasing what he did to the 49ers in crunch time. 19. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (at CHI): You cannot go here again with the Bears' pass defense looming on the road. 20. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns (at PIT): You cannot go here again with the Steelers' pass defense looming at home. 21. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (vs. MIN): He compiled well for Thomas Brown on the Packers, but here's thinking the blitzing Vikings can wreak real havoc. DOMINATE YOUR NFL PICKS POOL Sign up for free ATS and straight up picks advice on NFL pick'em with PoolGenius Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Running backs Regular starts Stronger starts 21. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (at LV): Sean Payton is non-committal about his lead back but hot hand and matchup says this is the play over Audric Estime. 22. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG): The Giants have had trouble with stopping the run all season. 23. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (at CAR, out): He should return this week and team up with Hunt for some big time rushing yardage to close out the Panthers. 24. Cam Akers, Minnesota Vikings (at CHI): He's getting more run with Jones of late, and he can come through against a team that struggles every which way vs. backs. 25. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG): Here's yet another solid double-up situation for RB2 or FLEX given the bye weeks. Week 12 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE Stock Watch | Trade Advice | Sleepers | Busts | Usage Report DFS Picks Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (at IND, $7,300 on DraftKings, $8,600 on FanDuel): Look for Gibbs to explode outside against the Colts in the fast track of the Luke with the force being strong with him for multiple TDs. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI, $6,900 on DraftKings, $8,100 on FanDuel): This dude compiles and scores even when inefficient with limited work, and they should look to him often against a still-weak Cardinals run defense. Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Running backs Weaker starts 26. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (vs. HOU): The Texans are just that nasty against the run even with no Tyjae Spears. 27. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (vs. KC): He can't run on this D and now has to deal with Jonathon Brooks getting touches. 28 Najee Harris and 29. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE): The Steelers need to air it out more vs. the Browns who handle the traditional running game well. 30. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT): Chubb isn't getting the free reign on high-leverage work, and it's hard to do much on the Steelers. Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Wide receivers Regular starts Stronger starts 23. Quentin Johnston and 24. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. BAL): Johnston can score, and McConkey can do it with great volume. 25. DeAndre Hopkins and 26. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (at CAR): Mahomes should go off with all of his weapons for a big offensive performance. 27. Calvin Ridley and 28. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (at HOU): They both can produce a lot of garbage-time production vs. a bad secondary (see Lamb and friends). 29. DJ Moore and 30. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (vs. GB): They got more involved with Thomas Brown calling plays for Caleb Williams, and garbage points can be had vs. the Vikings secondary at home. 31 Jerry Jeudy and 32. Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT): The running game is gone, and this should also be a high-volume garbage game from Jameis Winston. 33 DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (at MIA): He can do some volume damage in the slot for Maye. WEEK 12 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE Full Waiver Wire Recommendations | How to Spend FAAB | Top Waiver Targets DFS picks Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (vs. NE, $7,200 on DraftKings, $8,300 on FanDuel): Hill is slowly heating up to his usual explosive levels, and it happens here. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. NYG, $7,000 on DraftKings, $8,000 on FanDuel): Check on the hamstring, but if he plays, this is the ideal red zone and field-stretching opponent for him working with Mayfield with no Chris Godwin. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (vs. SF, $5,900 on DraftKings, $7,300 on FanDuel): The 49ers got ripped by JSN last week at home, and Reed can give them plenty of trouble on good target volume on short-to-intermediate slot routes. Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers Weaker starts 34. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (at GB): He's barely playable, so do it at our own risk for the WR40 on the season. 35. Tank Dell, Houston Texans (vs. TEN): Dell shouldn't be needed much away from Collins here. 36. Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears (vs. MIN): This is more of an outside receiver game. 37. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (vs. NE): He's the Samuel of this offense. 38. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (vs. SF): Don't chase last week in a bad spot. 39. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings (at CHI): Don't chase last week in a bad spot. Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Tight ends Must starts Stronger starts 7. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CLE): He should find the end zone in this sweet spot on the road. 8. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (at MIA): He should be busy again as the Dolphins have some trouble in that type of coverage (see Bowers). 9. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG): Otton has a tough spot, but he's too important to their passing game. 10. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (at CHI): Hock was a downer vs. the Titans, but he rebounds with a score in Chicago. 11. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (vs. KC): Here's one rookie to really like with some issues otherwise at tight end and a great matchip. 12. Theo Johnson, New York Giants (vs. TB): Here's another rookie to like with DeVito in another stellar matchup. DFS pick Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (at CAR, $5,800 on DraftKings, $7,200 on FanDuel): His dud vs. the Bills while Noah Gray made two-TD hay will mean some will be off him this week when he should provide major payback in a smash spot to resume his previous hot streak. Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Tight ends Weaker starts 13. Jonnu Smith, MIami Dolphins (vs. NE): He's tempting to chase points with, but he's still a borderline start in most weeks. 14. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (at LAC): The Chargers cover the position well, and you also need to worry about Isaiah Likely again. 15. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT): The Steelers erased Andrews last week, and Njoku isn't Likely. 16. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (vs. DAL): They might not need him much in this game with the big pass plays and steady big chunk runs. 17. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (vs. SF): He's trending in the wrong direction with more healthy wideout options. 18. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (at LAR): The numbers say yes, but the reality says no. 19. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (vs. MIN): Nyet against the Vikings. 20. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (vs. TEN): Titans just stopped Hock. Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Defense/special teams Stronger starts 7. Miami Dolphins (vs. NE): They were great last week and get another solid matchup at home. 8. Washington Commanders (vs. DAL): You can go back to playing them at home vs. the reeling rivals. 9. Philadelphia Eagles (at LAR): Vic Fangio can work in some big plays vs. Stafford. 10. Arizona Cardinals (at SEA): They were sizzling before the bye, and it continues out of the desert for Jonathan Gannon. 11. Green Bay Packers (vs. SF): The Packers are fine at home, forcing turnovers and getting some sacks. 12. Los Angeles Rams (vs. PHI): They are playing well with their young energy, which will lead to some key plays on Sunday night. DFS pick Houston Texans (vs. TEN), $3,600 on DraftKings, $4,700 on FanDuel): They're running hot for DeMeco Ryans after MNF, and they keep it up with big plays vs. the Titans. Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Defenses Weaker starts 13. Chicago Bears (vs. MIN): They can do something vs. Darnold, but they are hard to trust. 14. San Francisco 49ers (at GB): They can be sat for not getting the job done. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG): You're getting right into a road trap. 16. Baltimore Ravens (at LAC): Not vs. Jim Harbaugh's team. 17. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. BAL): Not vs. John Harbaugh's team Get more of Sporting News NFL writer Vinnie Iyer's Week 12 fantasy football advice by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast .

Whoscall, a global anti-scam application, has identified three primary channels used by investment scammers targeting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Investment scams are among the most common types of scams, where people are deceived into investing their money. OFWs are often prime targets, as scammers use social engineering techniques to exploit their vulnerability. “They (scammers) may promise investment opportunities in stocks, bonds, commodities, currency, or even real estate to their victims,” said Gogolook Philippines Country Head, Mel Migriño. “These scams typically involve enticing victims with promises of high returns on investments, often using fake or misleading information to lure them (victims) in,” she added. Whoscall, developed by Gogolook, a global leader in TrustTech, aims to protect individuals from online fraud and scams. As a tool that protects its users against potential online scams, Whoscall has identified three key channels commonly used by scammers to target OFWs. Messaging Apps Messaging platforms are often used by scammers to directly communicate with potential victims. They commonly use unknown numbers, often obtained through illegal SIM card sales, to carry out their schemes. “These scammers, like in other scam cases, exploit the vulnerabilities of OFWs by promising that they won’t need to work abroad if they invest,” said Migriño. This strategy helps scammers build personal relationships and gain trust before presenting their fraudulent investment offers. Social Media As leading platforms in the digital age, social media has become a key channel for scammers targeting OFWs through investment scams. Using fake accounts, scammers exploit platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote fraudulent investment opportunities. They create groups or pages that build a false sense of community and urgency, pressuring OFWs to invest quickly without proper research. “Because of its accessibility to OFWs, scammers nest on these platforms with convincing ads. Many OFWs are lured into clicking unverified links that lead them to fake investment platforms. Once they invest, the money is gone, and they become victims of these schemes,” Migriño explained. Email While many platforms have entered the market, email remains one of the top tools’ scammers use to execute investment scams. “One red flag for OFWs to watch out for is an offer that seems too good to be true, like a ‘no-risk’ investment. Scammers often use email to make their schemes appear more formal and convincing,” said Gogolook Philippines’ Country Head. “Scammers also rely on email to reach OFWs, frequently sending unsolicited messages with promises of lucrative investment opportunities,” she added. These emails often contain fake testimonials or exaggerated claims to entice recipients into investing. How to avoid investment scams One of the best ways OFWs can maintain cyber hygiene is by downloading anti-scam applications like the Whoscall App. With the app’s URL Scanner feature, users are alerted if the websites they are about to engage with are safe or potentially fraudulent. Protection of personal data and community protection are key thrusts of the Whoscall anti scam application. “With this, we can help protect our beloved modern heroes from falling victim to investment scams,” said Migriño. She also urged OFWs to stay vigilant, especially during the holiday season when generosity is high due to tradition. “To all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), we urge you to stay alert against investment scams. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always research and verify before investing your hard-earned money,” she advised. Illegal use of AI Migriño also highlighted the unethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) by scammers to profile potential victims online. “AI is one of the most powerful tools humans can use to fight online scams,” she said, “but we must remember it’s a double-edged sword—it can be used for good or exploited for harm.” She added, “With AI, scammers can quickly and easily profile potential victims online. This should remind us to always be mindful of online safety and think carefully about what personal information we share online.” Being business-savvy should be fun, attainable and A+. BMPlus is BusinessMirror's digital arm with practical tips & success stories for aspiring and thriving millennial entrepreneurs.