(WASHINGTON) — American Daniel Swift, a former Navy SEAL who deserted in 2019, was killed while fighting in Ukraine on Jan. 18, according to U.S. officials.
“The Navy can confirm that a former Sailor, Daniel W. Swift, was killed in Ukraine on Jan. 18, 2023,” the Navy said in a statement. “The Navy Absentee Collection and Information Center confirmed that the Sailor was is in an active deserter status since March 11, 2019. We cannot speculate as to why the former Sailor was in Ukraine.”
The U.S. State Department also confirmed the death of an American in Ukraine, though it did not identify him.
“”We can confirm the recent death of a U.S. citizen fighting in Ukraine,” the Department of State said in a statement. “We are in touch with his family and providing all possible consular assistance. Out of respect for the privacy of the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add.”
Swift had a 14-year military career, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court said Thursday it has been unable to determine who leaked Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case last May.
After a probe that involved interviews with more than 100 employees, investigators are “unable to identify a person responsible by a preponderance of the evidence,” according to the court.
In response to questions being raised to clarify whether the justices themselves were questioned, Supreme Court Marshal Gail Curley said Friday she uncovered no leads in the Dobbs leak probe that implicated the justices and therefore did not question any of them under oath.
She does say, however, that they were active and cooperative participants.
“During the course of the investigation, I spoke with each of the Justices, several on multiple occasions,” she said in a statement. “The Justices actively cooperated in this iterative process, asking questions and answering mine. I followed up on all credible leads, none of which implicated the Justices or their spouses. On this basis, I did not believe that it was necessary to ask the Justices to sign sworn affidavits.”
The draft opinion was leaked and published by Politico on May 2. The copy of the draft opinion showed a majority of justices appeared to vote to effectively overrule the 1973 landmark abortion precedent set in Roe v. Wade.
The findings were independently reviewed by former judge and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who provided an independent analysis.
The court does not say the case is fully closed. Curley, who oversaw the probe, left the door open to the possibility of new evidence emerging down the line.
“In time, continued investigation and analysis may produce additional leads that could identify the source of the disclosure,” she wrote. “Whether or not any individual is ever identified as the source of the disclosure, the Court should take action to create and implement better policies to govern the handling of Court-sensitive information and determine the best IT systems for security and collaboration.”
On June 24, the court issued its official opinion, which did in fact overturn Roe v. Wade as a national precedent and returned the decision on the legality of abortion to the states.
The leak of the draft opinion immediately triggered protests outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., and across the country. It also led to protesters outside Supreme Court justices’ homes in the D.C. area. About a month after the release of the draft opinion, a man was arrested outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home with a gun, ammunition, pepper spray and zip ties.
Those protests were triggered again when the official opinion was released the following month.
Both conservative and liberal sides pointed the finger at each other for who was responsible for the leaked opinion. The unprecedented publication of Alito’s leaked draft also upended the court’s traditional workflow, an iterative process marked by frank and private exchanges of ideas between justices over the course of months.
“What happened at the court is tremendously bad,” Justice Clarence Thomas said in June of the leak’s impact on court dynamics. “You begin to look over your shoulder. It’s kind of an infidelity.”
The findings released Thursday did eliminate several options as to what may have occurred in the leak, including saying it is highly “unlikely” the court’s IT systems were hacked from outside.
Several other pieces of information about the investigation were detailed, including:
82 staff in addition to the justices had access to the draft;
staff was interviewed under risk of perjury and asked to sign sworn affidavits;
it is not revealed whether the justices themselves were interviewed;
several staff admitted to telling a spouse or family member privately the outcome of the case before release; and
the court received limited outside assistance in the probe, but did do fingerprint analysis of one item of interest.
ABC News’ Mark Osborne contributed to this report.
Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Companies across the tech industry have announced layoffs, affecting thousands of workers in the first few weeks of 2023. Company officials have often cited economic uncertainty and fears of a recession in their job-cutting, cost-cutting decisions.
It follows a volatile 2022, which was also marred with layoffs by the thousands across major tech brands.
Google
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, said it will cut roughly 12,000 jobs from its global workforce on Friday, Jan. 20.
The decision will impact approximately 6% of the company’s employees.
“This will mean saying goodbye to some incredibly talented people we worked hard to hire and have loved working with,” said Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai in an email to Google employees on Friday morning.
“I’m deeply sorry for that. The fact that these changes will impact the lives of Googlers weighs heavily on me, and I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here.”
Pichai told employees the company is “bound to go through difficult economic cycles” and will “reengineer our cost base, and direct our talent and capital to our highest priorities.”
Microsoft
Microsoft said on Jan. 18 it will lay off 10,000 employees this year, affecting nearly 5% of Microsoft’s global workforce.
The layoffs at Microsoft arrive in response to “macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities,” the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“As we saw customers accelerate their digital spend during the pandemic, we’re now seeing them optimize their digital spend to do more with less,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a memo to employees on Wednesday.
He continued, “We’re also seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.”
Amazon
In early January, Amazon announced plans to eliminate just over 18,000 roles total, including impending layoffs announced in November. The majority of roles being cut are in Amazon Stores and People Experience and Technology Solutions teams, according to an email sent to employees from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.
Jassy had warned in November that job cuts at the e-commerce giant would continue in early 2023. Amazon employs roughly 1.5 million employees around the globe.
“This year’s review has been more difficult given the uncertain economy and that we’ve hired rapidly over the last several years,” the message read.
It continued, “We typically wait to communicate about these outcomes until we can speak with the people who are directly impacted. However, because one of our teammates leaked this information externally, we decided it was better to share this news earlier so you can hear the details directly from me.”
Coinbase
Coinbase, a cryptocurrency trading platform, announced it will lay off 950 people, in a Jan. 10 statement from CEO Brian Armstrong.
“As we examined our 2023 scenarios, it became clear that we would need to reduce expenses to increase our chances of doing well in every scenario,” Armstrong said in the statement.
“While it is always painful to part ways with our fellow colleagues, there was no way to reduce our expenses significantly enough, without considering changes to headcount.”
Vox Media
Vox Media is also laying off employees, according to the Vox Media Union.
In a statement on Twitter, the union said, “We were informed today that the company is laying off around 7 percent of its workforce, and some of our members have been impacted. We’re furious at the way the company has approached these layoffs, and are currently discussing how to best serve those who just lost their jobs.”
ABC News’ Max Zahn and Jon Haworth contributed to this report.
Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’oir are expecting a baby girl. The couple announced the news Thursday with photos from their maternity shoot.
“My beautiful wife & I can’t wait to welcome our baby Girl !!” Gucci captioned an Instagram post featuring pictures of him, Keyshia and their son, Ice, all wearing some shade of pink. “The Wop bout to have a daughter!”
“IT’s a GIRL,” Keyshia added when sharing the images to her account.
The couple tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed Ice, their first child together, three years later. Keyshia announced that they were expecting in September, sharing a video of the moment she showed Gucci her positive pregnancy, as well some images of her ultrasound and their son.
“Let’s Have Another Baby ICE Needs Somebody To Play With @laflare1017 @icedavis1017,” Keyshia wrote, quoting lyrics from Gucci’s “Mrs. Davis.”
Gucci Mane also has a so named Keitheon. Keyshia has three children, two daughters and a son, from a previous relationship.
The Poopsie Slime Surprise toys, otherwise known as the pooping toys, are somewhat of a phenomenon with kids. But, it appears the toymaker met its match after messing with a Black Eyed Peas song.
BMG Rights Management is going after the makers of Poopsie Slime Surprise, claiming they ripped off “My Humps” for a commercial. The ad in question, which is over 2 years old, featured four unicorns in crop tops and diapers singing a song titled “My Poops.”
Rolling Stonereports BMG filed suit against MGA Entertainment in Manhattan’s U.S. District Court and accused the company of willful copyright infringement. The lawsuit further states MGA “exploited [the song], without authorization.”
“Defendant created a song called ‘My Poops’ that clearly copies from, and is substantially similar to, ‘My Humps,'” BMG states. The music company also outlined similarities between the two songs, claiming they use a similar bass line, lyrics and vocal inflections.
BMG also lays out reasons to believe those behind the commercial were aware of the song when creating the jingle.
“My Humps,” says BMG, “Won Best Hip Hop Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Award.” It became a hit single and its music video has amassed over 700 million views on YouTube since it was posted in June 2009. The music label insists the toymaker “clearly had access” to the single.
The outlet notes the toymaker could defend itself under the First Amendment, should it claim the song is a parody.
In all, BMG is asking for $10 million in damages and for the toymaker to “destroy all copies” of the offending song.
Carly Simon will release her surprise 1995 concert, Live at Grand Central, on audio and Blu-ray for the first time later this month, and she’s giving a first taste of what to expect. The newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is sharing her performance of “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be.”
Live at Grand Central was a surprise performance Carly and her band put on in the middle of the main terminal of New York’s Grand Central Station; it was her first concert in 14 years. It previously aired as a Lifetime television special and was later released on VHS.
The release, which features 15 tracks, including “Anticipation,” “Haven’t Got Time For The Pain” and “Let The River Run,” is due out January 27 on Blu-ray, CD, vinyl and digital streaming platforms.
On Thursday, two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer David Crosby, solo artist and founding member of the Byrds; Crosby, Stills and Nash; and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young died at the age of 81. John Mayer, who was hugely influenced by Crosby, has shared several tributes to the late legend on Instagram.
John was not only influenced by Crosby as a guitarist, he also had Crosby and his bandmate Graham Nash sing on the title track of his album Born & Raised. On his Instagram Story, he writes, “If you want to honor the memory of David Crosby, pick up your instrument and sing the truth as you feel it. Don’t listen with anyone else’s ears but your own. Don’t concern yourself with formula or wonder what someone else might think.”
He continues, “Just sing how you feel, what you see, your pain and your joy, and sing so as to know yourself better, and so that others might know what it’s like to be you in this world.”
On his Story, John also posted an Apple Music screenshot of Crosby’s song “Music Is Love” from his first solo album, as well as a photo of Crosby holding a guitar. He captioned that one, “Acoustic guitar hero.”
On his regular feed, John posted a photo of Crosby playing acoustic guitar in the ’70s and wrote, “A life of songs, and now a life in songs. There aren’t many people who moved the world as deeply and for as long as David Crosby did. The music he made will inspire songwriters until the end of time. An absolute purist.”
In other John Mayer news, he’s got something new coming on January 26, though whether it’s a new song, album or tour announcement remains to be seen.
Watch out — a new reality show is in town and it’s called The Real Friends of WeHo.
The new series premieres Friday night on MTV and the cast — Brad Goreski, Todrick Hall, Curtis Hamilton, Jaymes Vaughan, Dorion Renauld and Joey Zauzig — are some of Hollywood’s most influential and successful LGBTQ+ celebrities.
The Real Friends of WeHo — WeHo is short for the gay-friendly West Hollywood neighborhood — focuses on the lives of this glamorous friend group. Jaymes tells ABC Audio that the show is “one of a kind.”
“I don’t know that there’s been a reality show that has done it this way yet,” he explains.
The fact that the cast are all members of the queer community is an aspect that isn’t lost on them. In fact, it’s that kind of representation that they hope viewers will appreciate. Joey’s hope is that people “will see a part of themselves in it and kind of relate and see a different side of our community and see that we’re all not perfect.”
“There haven’t been a lot of shows that show gay people in their natural habitat and I think it’s important to see successful gay men that are making it in Hollywood and finding ways to let our artistry and our voices be heard,” Todrick adds. “I think it’s really important to see that and for that representation to exist.”
Like any good reality show, though, there will be no shortage of entertainment.
“It is our real lives, but it’s also a television show. We all just saw the first episode and it’s good,” Brad teases. “There’s a lot of heart. There’s a lot of humor. There’s drama. It’s like the perfect mix of everything people would want in a reality TV show.”
(AURORA, Colo.) — Five Aurora, Colorado, first responders pleaded not guilty in an arraignment Friday on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, among other counts, in the death of Elijah McClain.
McClain died in 2019 after being stopped by police, placed in a chokehold and injected with ketamine as a sedative.
The five defendants’ cases will be split into three separate proceedings, according to a Wednesday court order from Adams County District Court Judge Mark Douglas Warner.
Aurora police officers Nathan Woodyard and Randy Roedema, former officer Jason Rosenblatt and paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Lt. Peter Cichuniec were indicted on a total of 32 counts related to McClain’s violent arrest and death in August 2019.
Cooper and Cichuniec, who injected the ketamine, will be tried together.
“The paramedics, Cichuniec and Cooper, generally assert that the actions of the law enforcement officers occurring prior to their arrival were factually unrelated to their actions implicated in their cases,” Warner wrote in the court order.
Rosenblatt and Roedema, who helped to restrain McClain, will also be tried together. Woodyard will be tried separately because he was first on the scene and allegedly placed McClain in the carotid hold, according to the court order.
“The Court well understands the legal theory of complicity. Nonetheless, the Court finds that under the particular facts as alleged in this case warrant severance of trials,” the order read.
McClain, a Black 23-year-old massage therapist, died following an encounter with police in August 2019 while he was walking home from a convenience store.
A passerby had called 911 to report McClain was acting “sketchy” since he was wearing a ski mask on a warm night. The lawyer for the McClain family attributed this to the fact that McClain was anemic, which made him feel cold more easily.
Aurora police officers responded to the scene and confronted McClain.
An officer can be heard saying in body camera footage that they put him into a carotid chokehold, which restricts the carotid artery and cuts off blood to the brain, according to the Department of Justice.
McClain can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe,” in police body camera footage.
Paramedics arrived, giving McClain an “excessive” dose of ketamine, according to McCain’s lawyer, and McClain suffered from cardiac arrest in an ambulance shortly afterward, according to officials. McClain was pronounced dead three days later.
The cause of death was listed in an amended autopsy report as “complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint.”
“The investigation suggests that [McClain] received an intramuscular dose of ketamine that was higher than recommended for his weight,” according to the report from Adams County Chief Coroner Monica Broncucia-Jordan.
It continued, “Further, my review of all the body camera footage shows that Mr. McClain was extremely sedated within minutes of receiving a shot of ketamine. When he was placed on a stretcher, I believe he was displaying agonal breathing and respiratory arrest was imminent.”
“I believe that Mr. McClain would most likely be alive but for the administration of ketamine,” the report read.
More artists have taken to social media to pay tribute to Crosby, Stills & Nash singer David Crosby, who passed away Thursday at the age of 81.
Jefferson Airplane‘s Grace Slickrevealed in a post that Crosby saved her life by helping her get clean: “25 years ago, David took me to rehab and saved my life – I wish I could have saved his this time. I will miss his humor, his intelligence, and his deep body of work.”
Hootie and the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker shared that Crosby actually sang on the band’s huge hit single “Hold My Hand,” writing, “We were recording Cracked Rearview and a friend said she knew David Crosby. Sure enough we were finishing the record and one day she walks in with him. He was so awesome to hang with. Then he sang on Hold My Hand and took it to a greater level. God rest his soul. Thank u man!”
Among the other tributes …
Ringo Starr – “God bless David Crosby and peace and love to all his family peace and love Ringo.”
James Taylor – “Missing you already, Croz. Love to Jan…”
Joan Baez– “David Crosby was among the monster group icons who continued a solo career with the kind of success reserved for great musicians. And he could sing the hell out of a harmony. He was also a friend to me. He was always, I repeat, always present for me, to defend my character and politics, and often included over the top (sometimes unwarranted) praise…He was funny, clever, and refreshing to be around…He will be missed by millions, including myself.”
E Street Band’s Nils Lofgren (who is also a member of Neil Young‘s band Crazy Horse) – “Dear Croz, Rest in Peace and Song, old friend. Much Love and Healing to Jan and Django, from Nils and Amy.”
Bruce Hornsby – “David Crosby was a friend for many years, always a warm and supportive fan with insightful comments about my work. So bright and so funny, he was always a joy to be around,” adding, “Adding, “A true musical original, his songs were unique and soulful with his interesting chord progressions and melodic content. I loved him and will truly miss him.”
Ellen DeGeneres – “David Crosby was a brilliant musician, extremely funny, and a friend. He brought so much to us. My love goes out to his wife, Jan, and his entire family.”
Rob Reiner– “So sad to hear the news about David Crosby. He was a friend. His contribution to American music will live on.”
Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynesposted a huge tribute to Crosby, sharing in part, “David Crosby changed the landscape of music as a solo artist and as a member of the Byrds, CSN, and CSNY.” He continued, “I really loved the beautiful melodies, the three-part harmony, and the ethereal quality of this music, which somehow also had a heaviness to it. Not in the loud sense of the term but in the gravity and depth of the songs and the performances.” Finally he notes, “Thanks David, from millions of us, for your contribution to the world of music. It is a huge one.”
