(WASHINGTON) — The Department of Justice has opened a grand jury investigation related to former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, following the revelation in February that he had brought boxes of documents home to his Mar-a-Lago estate when he left the White House.
At least one subpoena has been issued to the National Archives, and interview requests have been made to some former aides who were with Trump during his last days in office, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The news was first reported by the New York Times.
“President Trump consistently handled all documents in accordance with applicable law and regulations,” a spokesperson for Trump said in a statement following news of the probe. “Belated attempts to second-guess that clear fact are politically motivated and misguided.”
Officials with the Department of Justice declined to comment on the matter.
National Archives officials had previously confirmed in a letter to the House Oversight Committee that some of the documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago were marked “classified,” and said they had referred the matter to the Department of Justice.
(NEW YORK) — Stargazers all over the world will have an opportunity to see a blood moon over the weekend as a lunar eclipse moves into Earth’s orbit.
The penumbral eclipse, when the moon is completely immersed in the penumbral cone of the Earth without touching the umbra, the inner part of Earth’s shadow, is expected to begin Sunday just after 9:30 p.m. ET, according to NASA. The penumbral eclipse results in only part of the moon going dark.
The partial eclipse, when the moon appears to move into the umbra and part of the moon inside the umbra will appear very dark, will occur just before 10:30 p.m. ET.
Totality will begin just before 11:30 p.m. ET, when the entire moon is inside Earth’s umbra and transforms to a coppery-red hue. Totality will end before 1 a.m. Monday, and the penumbral eclipse will end at 2:50 a.m.
Residents in the eastern half of the U.S. and all of South America will be able to observe each stage of the lunar eclipse, and totality will be visible in much of Africa, western Europe, Central and South America and most of North America, according to NASA.
A dark environment away from bright lights will make for the best viewing conditions.
The lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align, and the moon passes into Earth’s shadow, according to NASA. “Blood moon” is the term to describe the part of the total lunar eclipse in which all the Earth’s sunrises and sunsets project onto the moon’s surface as it passes through Earth’s shadow, darkening it and giving it its crimson color.
Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon that gives the sky its blue color and makes sunsets red, is what causes the moon to turn red during the eclipse. Red light, which has longer wavelengths than blue light, is seen during a lunar eclipse because the only sunlight reaching the moon passes through Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA.
“It’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon,” according to the administration.
The more dust or clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere at the time of the eclipse, the more red the moon will appear.
During the eclipse, cloud cover is expected from Dallas to Chicago, while scattered clouds will range from Atlanta to New York. NASA will broadcast a livestream of the total lunar eclipse.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur on Nov. 8. After that, another total lunar eclipse will not occur until March 13, 2025.
(NEW YORK) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.
The Russian military has since launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine’s disputed Donbas region, attempting to capture the strategic port city of Mariupol to secure a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
May 13, 3:10 am
Russian troops suffer ‘significant’ loss in Donbas, UK says
Russian troops suffered “significant” loss while attempting to cross a river in the disputed Donbas region of war-torn eastern Ukraine, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Friday in an intelligence update.
“Ukrainian forces successfully prevented an attempted Russian river crossing in the Donbas,” the ministry said. “Images indicate that during the crossing of the Siverskyi Donets river west of Severodonetsk, Russia lost significant armoured manoeuvre elements of at least one Battalion Tactical Group as well as the deployed pontoon bridging equipment.”
“Conducting river crossings in a contested environment is a highly risky manoeuvre and speaks to the pressure the Russian commanders are under to make progress in their operations in eastern Ukraine,” the ministry added. “Russian forces have failed to make any significant advances despite concentrating forces in this area after withdrawing and redeploying units from the Kyiv and Chernihiv Oblasts.”
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released images purportedly showing a wrecked pontoon crossing over the Siverskyi Donets river, with a number of damaged or destroyed armored vehicles on both banks.
“Artillerymen of the 17th tank brigade of the #UAarmy have opened the holiday season for [Russian forces],” the ministry said in a post on Twitter, alongside the photos. “Some bathed in the Siverskyi Donets River, and some were burned by the May sun.”
The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Strategic Communications Directorate also tweeted images of the scene, purportedly showing the smoking wreckage after artillery units and land forces “destroyed all attempts by the Russian occupiers to cross the Seversky Donets River.”
May 12, 5:11 pm
Sen. Rand Paul single-handedly delays $40B in aid, pushing vote to next week
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., single-handedly sidelined the $40 billion emergency Ukraine aid bill until next week in an effort to force lawmakers to include funding for a new watchdog effort to police how the billions in taxpayer dollars are spent.
In a very rare moment, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined forces.
“There is now only one thing holding us back: the junior Senator from Kentucky is preventing swift passage of Ukraine aid because he wants to add — at the last minute — his own changes directly into the bill. His change is strongly opposed by many members from both parties,” Schumer said Thursday. “He is not even asking for an amendment … he is simply saying, ‘my way or the highway.'”
But Paul stood his ground, highlighting the nearly $60 billion that the U.S. will have given to Ukraine if this package passes.
After Paul blocked an effort to expedite passage, Schumer reiterated that Paul will not get his desired changes without a vote and blamed Paul for slowing aid.
The aid bill has enormous bipartisan support and is expected to pass by sometime next week.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden will announce Friday that $10 billion from the American Rescue Plan has been committed to police departments and public safety across the U.S.
“A very big amount of what we’re talking about today is the fact that state and local government have already committed at least $6.5 billion to various different forms of public safety, CVI [Community Violence Intervention], to preventing layoffs of police officers and vital services, and adding needed equipment,” senior administration officials said on a call with reporters Thursday night.
Biden is set to meet with mayors and police chiefs at the White House Friday and underline those investments during remarks from the Rose Garden at 3 p.m. E.T.
These funds show what has been reported from cities through the end of 2021. The COVID-19 relief law included $350 billion for state and local governments to reduce violence.
A senior administration official said Biden wants to call on communities to use these funds “now” because “we are approaching another summer and want to stress the priority of using these dollars for public safety and violence prevention.”
Ahead of Biden’s meeting today, the White House highlighted how cities are using the ARP funds to boost police budgets and protect communities.
This includes Houston, where the city’s $52 million plan puts $32 million toward mental health, domestic violence response and victim service efforts, as well as $11 million in police overtime, $3 million toward a new community violence intervention and prevention program, and $1 million for a gun-buyback initiative.
Kansas City, Missouri, was able to hire up to 150 police officers, as well as increase pay for officers and civilian staff using ARP funds. The city also budgeted $12.4 million for its Violent Crimes Division.
In Detroit, the city began using ARP funds in July 2021 and has continued to expand public safety initiatives in its $110 million plan, according to the White House, including $30 million for enhanced police patrols, $12 million for community outreach gun violence prevention programs and $11 million for expanded mental health co-response.
Cities such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have invested funds in new police equipment and cars, respectively.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Baltimore 3, St. Louis 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Oakland 5, Detroit 3
Houston 11, Minnesota 3
Houston 5, Minnesota 0
Texas 3, Kansas City 1
NY Yankees 15 Chicago White Sox 7
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NY Mets 4, Washington 1
Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 0
Philadelphia 9, LA Dodgers 7
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Miami 99, Philadelphia 90 (Miami wins 4-2)
Dallas 113, Phoenix 86 (Series tied 3-3)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Boston 5, Carolina 2 (Series tied 3-3)
Tampa Bay 4, Toronto 3 (OT) (Series tied 3-3)
St. Louis 5, Minnesota 1 (St. Louis wins 4-2)
Edmonton 4, Los Angeles 2 (Series tied 3-3)
The Lincoln Lawyer is driving on to a TV set near you this weekend –- the Netflix series about a lawyer who works out of the back of his various Lincoln cars is based on the wildly popular book series, which was made into a movie starring Matthew McConaughey in 2011. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Garcia-Rulfo stars in this latest version, and he tells ABC Audio he plays it different than McConaughey, though he loves him.
“I remember watching the film, Matthew McConaughey’s film, back in the day, when it came out and loving it, loving what he did. I mean, it’s Matthew McConaughey, he’s amazing,” the actor gushes. “I especially remember the character, because I wasn’t familiar at the time with the books… what a great character.”
Stepping into the lead character’s shoes as a Mexican actor is a dream come true for Garcia-Rulfo, who says, “That’s the great thing about America…it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can make it.”
“I think I was very thankful to be playing not the cartel,” he continues. “It’s such a cool thing to be a lead as a Mexican actor, to be playing that is really, really something.”
“When I when I got [the lead role], I’m like, wait, am I playing the lawyer? You know, like, is this the lead, are you sure?” the actor recalls. “It’s so important. It’s it was such a pleasure. And I’m really thankful for that.“
Although thankful for the role, if Garcia-Rulfo were a lawyer he wouldn’t be working out of the backseat of a moving car like his character does.
“I get car sick very easy,” he admits. “Like I can’t read, you know? No I couldn’t do it.”
We don’t know when we’re getting new music from him, but when it comes to performing live, Zedd is back in full force.
Following the announcement of his Zedd in the Park event in Los Angeles on July 8, “The Middle” mastermind has announced several headlining shows. He’ll perform at New York’s Brooklyn Mirage on August 12 and 13; at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on August 31; and at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on October 8.
The general on-sale for the shows starts today, Friday, at 10 a.m. local time via Zedd.net. Zedd is also playing the after-party of the Billboard Music Conference this Saturday night, taking place at Zouk at Resorts World in Las Vegas.
So far this year, Zedd has released two singles: “Follow” with Martin Garrix and “You’ve Got to Let Go If You Want to Be Free” with Disclosure. Over the last few years, Zedd has teamed up with Katy Perry for the song “365” and with Shawn Mendes for a remix of “Lost In Japan.”
In 2021, Rod Stewart announced that he’d extended his Rod Stewart: The Hits residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas into an 11th year. Those dates begin Friday, May 13, and run through May 21. What keeps the legendary singer coming back to Sin City? Well, the money, of course, but also, Rod just really, really likes the Colosseum.
“I do get paid rather nicely, to be honest,” Rod tells ABC Audio. However, he adds, “It’s probably the best venue in the world to see your favorite rock star. Or see anybody...your favorite juggler! Yeah, the seats are gorgeous, the best sound…it’s just a privilege to play there.”
Plus, Rod notes, “You only have to play for an hour and a half…you play any longer, they grab you by the neck and drag you off!”
Rod’s exaggerating, but it’s true that Las Vegas shows are generally kept somewhat short, for obvious reasons.
“They want to get everybody back into the casino, gambling,” Rod laughs. “‘Mr. Stewart, only 90 minutes, please!’ ‘Cause I sometimes go on for two hours!”
If you can’t see Rod during this run, he’ll be back in Las Vegas from September 30 to October 1. But he’s also coming to you: His North American summer tour with Cheap Trick starts June 10 in Vancouver, and wraps up September 17 in Edmonton, Alberta.
In between, Rod’ll play the Hollywood Bowl, as well as Denver, Phoenix, Nashville, Milwaukee, Saint Paul, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and other major cities. Visit RodStewart.com for the full itinerary.
Burna Boy is giving some insight into his new album and plans for the future.
In a new interview with Billboard, the Nigerian artist confirms it’s titled Love, Damini and is due out on his birthday, July 2. Damini comes from his birth name, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu.
“That’s how I like to sign all my letters, because I didn’t know the proper [signoff],” Burna says of the title’s meaning. “It’s a bit personal [because] it’s bringing you into my head on my birthday — when you turn 31 and ain’t got no kids, everything is going good and bad at the same time.”
“You reflect and then you get as lit as possible,” he adds. “Then you sleep and wake up and reflect again. I’m reflecting on everything — what I’m doing and what’s happening where I’m from. Where I’m from is a part of where I’m going.”
Burna says his ultimate goal is “to build a bridge between all Black people in all parts of the world through the music and performance. Music is the number-one messenger.”
He’s already making history at different venues across the globe, most recently in April, when he became the first Nigerian act to headline and sell out NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Burna tells Billboard he’s got big plans for future history-making performances.
“My dream venues, other than all the stadiums in the world, are unorthodox, like a theme park or a f****** train station,” he says. “A concert in a big-a** train station, and there’s no trains and the whole tracks are filled with people. I just want to do weird s*** like that for my own pleasure.”
Today, Burna is set to speak at Billboard’s MusicCon in Las Vegas. He’ll then perform during the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday.
Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine, the 2021 documentary about the Canadian power trio Triumph, gets its global streaming premiere via the nugs.net platform tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. The event will begin with an exclusive live Q&A session with the band’s three members — singer/guitarist Rik Emmett, drummer/singer Gil Moore and bassist/keyboardist Mike Levine.
Levine tells ABC Audio that the Q&A will last about 25-to-30 minutes, and he, Emmett and Moore will be together at Gil’s Metalworks Studios near Toronto, where they’ll answer fan-submitted questions.
“[We’re going to] try and not laugh our way through, ’cause we’re really good at that when the three of us get together,” the 72-year-old rocker says. “We’re gonna try and be serious. I’m not sure it’ll work.”
The movie profiles the Toronto-based rockers’ rise to popularity during the late 1970s and ’80s, the fallout from Emmett’s unexpected split with the group in the late 1980s, and the band’s surprise 2019 reunion performance during a special invite-only event.
Part of the film is dedicated to some longtime Triumph fans who share their backstories as they prepare to attend the event, not knowing the band’s intends to perform.
Levine says he and his band mates were “really ecstatic” about how the movie turned out, noting, “[A]s opposed to just a straight documentary…I think it’s more of a film, myself, because it touches you emotionally. It’ll make you laugh or it’ll make you cry…and documentaries usually don’t do that kind of thing.”
Tickets for the event cost $19.95, and are available at nugs.net/Triumph. Those who purchase tickets can stream the documentary on demand for 48 hours after pressing “play.” On-demand access will be available through May 30.
