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Trump investigation live updates: FBI collected top secret docs from Mar-a-Lago

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The FBI executed an unprecedented raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday, in search of evidence that sources tell ABC News is tied to his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

It’s believed to be the first search by the federal agency of the residence of a current or former U.S. president. Trump and other Republicans have sharply criticized the raid as a partisan attack and have demanded an explanation.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Aug 12, 3:27 PM EDT
DOJ investigates potential violation of at least 3 separate criminal statutes

ABC News has obtained what appears to be the search warrant executed at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property.

The warrant has not yet been posted on the docket. ABC News is not yet publishing the warrant and property receipt.

The filing, which includes two attachments (“Attachment A” and “Attachment B”) indicates that the Justice Department, in its search of the Mar-a-Lago estate, is investigating potential violation of at least three separate criminal statutes, including a statute under the Espionage Act.

Attachment B states that the property to be seized by agents includes “all physical documents and records constituting evidence, contraband, fruits of crime or other items illegally possessed” in violation of 18 USC 793, a statute under the Espionage Act involving the gathering, transmitting or loss of defense information; 18 USC 2071, which involves any federal government employee who, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies or destroys public records; and 18 USC 1519, obstruction of justice.

Under the receipt showing property that was seized from Trump’s estate, agents note they recovered 11 sets of documents of various classifications ranging from confidential to top secret and sensitive compartmented information.

The receipt identifies one set referring to “various classified/TS/SCI documents,” four sets of top secret documents, three sets of secret documents and three sets of documents described as confidential. It appears that there were 21 boxes taken.

Other items included in the receipt include one labeled “Info re: President of France,” an executive grant of clemency for Trump ally Roger Stone, binders of photos, a “potential presidential record” and a leather-bound box of documents.

Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich said, “The Biden administration is in obvious damage control after their botched raid where they seized the President’s picture books, a ‘hand written note,’ and declassified documents. This raid of President Trump’s home was not just unprecedented, but unnecessary—and now they are leaking lies and innuendos to try to explain away the weaponization of government against their dominant political opponent.”

–ABC News’ John Santucci, Alex Mallin and Katherine Faulders

Aug 12, 12:43 PM EDT
House Republicans attack integrity of DOJ and FBI

Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee defended former President Donald Trump while attacking the integrity of the Department of Justice and the FBI during a press conference on Capitol Hill Friday.

“President Donald Trump is Joe Biden’s most likeliest political opponent in 2024 and this is less than 100 days from critical midterm elections,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican, said. “The FBI raid of President Trump is a complete abuse and overreach of its authority.”

Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Michael Turner, R-Ohio, told reporters that Republicans on the committee are “glad” the Department of Justice has begun the process of releasing “some” of the information about the raid to the public, but called for more. Turner said committee Republicans want access to the affidavit outlining the “imminent security threat” justifying the raid.

“Our request remains that the director of the FBI and the attorney general disclose to this committee the imminent national security threat upon which they based their decision to order a raid on the president’s home, again underscoring that there were many other options available to them,” Turner claimed. “We believe after the release today that these questions will remain unanswered.”

“The real story will be with the release of the affidavit itself,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., added. “The bureau and the attorney general and the DOJ obviously made the decision that this extreme measure was necessary. We will await their rationale for why that extreme measure was justified and not some lesser intrusive means.”

Turner did not call for the public disclosure of the underlying affidavit, which is expected to remain under seal, but did say that members of the intelligence committee and other committees of jurisdiction should have access. He called on committee Democrats to support a subpoena for this affidavit if there is non-compliance.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy dodged ABC News’ questions about whether he supports the release of the warrant authorizing the raid, instead saying he’d like to see the subpoena against Trump.

Trump received a subpoena in the spring for documents that he did not return to the National Archives, ABC News has reported. It’s unclear to what extent, if at all, he complied. The Justice Department has not publicly confirmed the existence of a subpoena.

Stefanik promised a “fulsome investigation” if Republicans retake the gavel in November.

“House Republicans are committed to immediate oversight, accountability and a fulsome investigation to provide needed transparency and answers to the American people,” Stefanik said.

The group also emphasized that they’re in “full support” of those who serve in the FBI and law enforcement agencies and condemned any violence against agents, while also repeatedly calling into question the credibility of law enforcement.

Aug 12, 12:28 PM EDT
Pelosi slams GOP for rhetoric following raid

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is blasting Republicans for their rhetoric following the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago.

Asked by ABC News about concerns over possibly increasing levels of violence against law enforcement and public officials after recent rhetoric from the GOP, Pelosi said Friday that she knows “very well how vicious” some of those threats can be, and said they’ve been “exacerbated” by former President Donald Trump.

“You would think there would be an adult in the Republican room that would say, ‘Just calm down. See what the facts are and let’s go for that.’ Instead of … instigating assaults on law enforcement,” Pelosi said.

When asked if she wants Congress to open more investigations into the material that Trump allegedly took, Pelosi said she’s not currently making plans for that and is going to let the investigation unfold.

Pelosi said she was not briefed on any aspect of the FBI raid or what classified information was being held.

She said she only knows “what’s in the public domain,” but she added, “if the nature of these documents is what appears to be, this is very serious.”

Aug 12, 8:44 AM EDT
Washington Post: Nuclear documents sought at Mar-a-Lago

The Washington Post is reporting that classified documents related to nuclear weapons were among the items agents sought by federal agents at Mar-a-Lago.

Multiple sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News that the Justice Department and the FBI believed Trump continued to keep sensitive classified documents that had national security implications and that in recent weeks additional information came in suggesting that Trump was not complying with requests to provide the information the Justice Department believed he had in his possession.

Aug 12, 8:00 AM EDT
DOJ believes Trump held onto sensitive classified documents and associates questioned, sources say

Multiple sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News that the Department of Justice and the FBI believed former President Donald Trump continued to keep sensitive classified documents that had national security implications, and that in recent weeks additional information came in suggesting Trump was not complying with requests to provide the information the Justice Department believed he had in his possession.

The information was sensitive enough that authorities wanted to take it back into possession immediately.

-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas, Alexander Mallin, Luke Barr, Katherine Faulders, and John Santucci

Aug 12, 7:07 AM EDT
Trump calls for ‘immediate release’ of search warrant

Former President Donald Trump is calling for “the immediate release” of the warrant that allowed FBI agents to search his Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday.

“Not only will I not oppose the release of documents related to the unAmerican, unwarranted, and unnecessary raid and break-in of my home in Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-a-Lago, I am going a step further by ENCOURAGING the immediate release of those documents, even though they have been drawn up by radical left Democrats and possible future political opponents, who have a strong and powerful vested interest in attacking me much as they have done for the last 6 years,” Trump said late Thursday in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“This unprecedented political weaponization of law enforcement is inappropriate and highly unethical,” he added. “The world is watching as our Country is being brought to a new low, not only on our border, crime, economy, energy, national security, and so much more, but also with respect to our sacred elections!”

-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders

New Music Friday: Fabolous, YG, Kehlani, Ari Lennox, Alicia Keys and more

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Fridays mean new music releases, so here’s some of the latest to drop in the worlds of hip-hop and R&B.

Megan Thee Stallion, Traumazine — Meg’s new album shows fans a more vulnerable side, which she admits was pretty nerve-wracking. “I feel really good because I was so nervous because I never talk about my real feelings,” she told GMA of releasing the project.

The Game, Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind — Game is back, and he’s showing us all the work he’s done in his downtime. Drillmatic features 31 tracks, including the Eminem diss track, “The Black Slim Shady.”

Alicia Keys, Keys II — The deluxe version of Alicia’s double album Keys includes two new tracks: “Trillions” ft. Brent Faiyaz and “Stay” ft. Lucky Daye.

Nicki Minaj, “Super Freaky Girl” — Nicki raps about her sexual prowess on the new single, which samples Rick James‘ “Super Freak.”

Fabolous ft. French Montana, “Say Less” — The Brooklyn rapper teamed up with French Montana for the song and visual, which sees them enjoying themselves at Sei Less, an Asian-fusion restaurant in New York. Fab also dropped “1 Thing Freestyle,” in which he raps over a sample of Amerie‘s 2005 hit.

YG, “Toxic” — Produced by DJ Swish, Larry Jayy and Reece Beats, the song samples Mary J. Blige‘s “Be Happy” and details a toxic relationship. The accompanying visual sees YG remind a side chick of his happy home with his children’s mother.

Ari Lennox, “Hoodie” — Ari reunites with Dreamville collaborator Elite for the first single off her upcoming album, age/sex/location. Her love interest in the video is Isaiah Rashad.

Babyface & Kehlani, “Seamless” — The singers and The Rascals wrote the track, which “offers a frank look at a night out that’s filled with drama, thanks to a partner who always makes a scene.”

Florida to ban gender-affirming care under Medicaid for transgender recipients

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — Florida will soon bar transgender residents from using Medicaid to pay for gender-affirming care, according to the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration. The rule goes into effect Aug. 21.

Several accredited medical institutions, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services say gender-affirming care can improve the mental health and overall well-being of gender-diverse people.

These organizations recommend gender-affirming care for the treatment of “gender dysphoria” — when a person experiences emotional distress because their assigned sex at birth and gender identity don’t align.

“Because gender-affirming care encompasses many facets of healthcare needs and support, it has been shown to increase positive outcomes for transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents,” reads guidance from HHS. “Gender-affirming care is patient-centered and treats individuals holistically, aligning their outward, physical traits with their gender identity,” the guidance continues.

However, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration changed its rules Thursday. Medicaid can no longer be used to pay for medications and surgeries of those diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the state.

A 2019 study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that about 32,000 of the roughly 152,000 U.S. trans adults enrolled in Medicaid at the time lived in states that denied coverage for gender-affirming care.

AHCA proposed the change in a June memo, recommending limitations on puberty blockers, hormones, sex-reassignment surgeries and “any other procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics.”

Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, also released a memo in June on gender-affirming care.

He claimed treatments like sex-reassignment surgery, and hormone and puberty blockers are not effective treatments for gender dysphoria based on three cited studies that dispute the general medical consensus on the condition.

He said federal medical guidelines are “about injecting political ideology into the health of our children. Children experiencing gender dysphoria should be supported by family and seek counseling, not pushed into an irreversible decision before they reach 18,” he said in a statement.

Almost simultaneously, the Florida State Board of Medicine voted on Aug. 5 to begin formulating a rule that would deny gender-affirming care to people under the age of 18 and require adults to consult with their doctors before receiving such care.

In a recent press conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis railed against gender-affirming care.

“You don’t disfigure 10, 12, 13-year-old kids based on gender dysphoria,” DeSantis said in a recent press conference. “I think these doctors need to get sued for what’s happening.”

He also made claims that children with gender dysphoria often regret their gender-affirming care; however, a 2021 study from researchers across the country found that the total number of people who regret their care is almost non-existent.

Health care providers have told ABC News that gender-affirming surgeries are not used on minors.

These moves led to outrage from LGBTQ groups and health care providers across the country.

“Science, medicine, and evidence-based approaches have demonstrated time and time again that transition-related care is medically necessary and life-saving care, and if this proposal is adopted, it will go against the recommendation of every major medical association,” said Sarah Warbelow, Human Rights Campaign Legal Director in a statement. “The truth matters and so does protecting Florida’s youth and their families.”

Under DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has continuously battled against professional and activist-based recommendations for gender inclusivity. Recently, several of the state’s agencies openly dismissed nondiscrimination recommendations from the federal level. In July, the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, went into effect.

Supporters of the law say that children should not be learning about gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-3. Critics say it will silence and shame LGBTQ identities in the classroom.

The Cowsills to release first new album in nearly 30 years

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

1960s family pop group The Cowsills will release their first new album in almost 30 years, Rhythm of the World, on September 30.

The 11-track collection, which can be preordered now, is made up of new original songs. The title track has been released as an advance single via digital formats.

The group now features three Cowsill siblings — Bob, Paul and Susan.

Bob says the songs on Rhythm of the World were mostly written by the group in hotel rooms, dressing rooms and the tour bus while taking part in the Turtles-headlined Happy Together summer tour.

He explains that the lead track, “Ya Gotta Get Up!,” was inspired by Turtles singer Howard Kaylan‘s “exuberant plea with the audience each night of the tour,” while the closing song, “Katrina,” tells the story of brother Barry Cowsill‘s 2005 death in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

“[For] all the songs … we use melody and harmony to bring some love and the hope of peace to the world,” Bob notes. “We are thrilled to be here to claim our legacy and share our music!!!”

The Cowsills are best known for such hits as 1967’s “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” and their 1969 cover of the Broadway musical Hair‘s title song, which both peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group also served as the inspiration for The Partridge Family.

The Cowsills currently are part of the lineup of the 2022 Happy Together Tour, which runs through an August 29 show in Grand Island, Nebraska. The group also has several other concerts on their schedule, including performances on September 9 in Somers Point, New Jersey, and September 10 in New York City.

Here’s Rhythm of the World‘s full track list:

“Ya Gotta Get Up!”
“Lend a Hand”
“Hawks on the Line”
“Every Little Secret”
“Nuclear Winter”
“Rhythm of the World”
“Largo Nights”
“Goodbye’s Not Forever”
“The Long Run”
“Try to Believe It Too”
“Katrina”

Sammy Hagar reflects on recording ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ title song

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Sammy Hagar was among the many well-known artists who contributed original songs to the soundtrack of the classic teen comedy-drama Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which premiered 40 years ago this Saturday.

Hagar wrote and recorded the movie’s title song, a riff-heavy rock tune that Sammy notes was one of a series a tunes he recorded specifically for films around that time.

“They just would send me the script of the movie, and I would read…through it,” Hagar explains to ABC Audio. “And they didn’t ask me to write the title track. I just wrote a song called ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High.’ So…lyrically, I just kind of mimicked what was going on in the movie. You know, just a bunch of high school kids messing up…and trying to get laid, basically.”

The Red Rocker says having one of his songs as the title track of a popular movie then felt like he’d hit the “big time.”

Hagar notes that he always enjoyed writing songs for films, explaining, “I loved having a theme. For a songwriter, the first thing you need to have, after you have the [music]…I needed a title, a subject. ‘What am I writing about?’ And when they would hand that to you in a script in a movie…I just said, ‘Oh, yeah. Boom! I know what to do.'”

Meanwhile, Hagar says one of the cool things about his “Fast Times” song was getting to work with a soundtrack musician who was experimenting with synthesizers, and who added an effect that Sammy described as sounding “like a knife being sharpened.”

“It was so advanced [at the time],” Hagar notes. “It was really cool…You know, no one had ever heard anything like that before.”

Mark Ruffalo shades ‘Star Wars’ in defending Marvel movies

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Mark Ruffalo has joined Elizabeth Olsen and other Marvel movie stars in coming out swinging in defense of their recurring day jobs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In a chat with Metro UK to promote reprising his role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in Disney+’s forthcoming She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Ruffalo was asked if there’s too much Marvel content out there.

“It’s not something I worry about,” Ruffalo, who has played the role for a decade, said.

“I understand that these things run their course and then something else comes along. But the thing Marvel has done well is that, inside the MCU, just as they do with comic books, they let a director or an actor sort of recreate each piece to their own style, their likeness. Marvel generally lets them bring that to the material.”

He jabbed, “If you watch a Star Wars [project], you’re pretty much going to get the same version of Star Wars each time.” He allowed that some Star Wars projects “might have a little bit of humor” or “a little bit of different animation,” but “you’re always, really, in that same kind of world.”

Instead, he offers, “with Marvel you can have a whole different feeling, even within the Marvel Universe.”

As for his character, Ruffalo noted, he’s closer to himself than some might think. “I really related to the Hulk as a kid and it’s been the same way through my life — you wrestle with anger and self-destructive behavior and then … you think, ‘Man, what was I doing?'”

She-Hulk debuts August 18 on Disney+.

ABC News’ parent company, Disney, is the owner of Marvel Studios and Star Wars.

New Music Friday: Charlie Puth, Bella Poarch, Sean Kingston, Carly Rae Jepsen and more

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s Friday! Let’s see who’s out with new tunes …

Charlie Puth released a new version of his and Jung Kook‘s “Left and Right” today, which was remixed by EDM artist Sam Feldt. This new spin transforms the song into a dance track.

TikTok sensation Bella Poarch released “Living Hell” and its creepy music video, which sees her submerged in yellow slime and being at the mercy of an invisible force that treats her like a plaything. This is the latest single off her just-released Dolls EP.

Sean Kingston also released a new song and its accompanying music video, this time for “Side.” The hypnotic track features heavy percussion as Sean sings about not being able to get a girl out of his head. The track will be featured on his upcoming album Road to Deliverance, which is due out later this year.

Carly Rae Jepsen released the music video for “Beach House,” a tongue-in-cheek track about her standards getting in the way of finding true love when, in reality, the dating pool is filled with duds. The video flips gender roles, with Carly acting like a boss as dancing men surround her.

Joshua Bassett released “Smoke Slow” and its music video today. He said of the track, “This song is about savoring those moments together with a person you feel close to, but know you can’t be with. Since I couldn’t say it aloud, of course, I had to write a song about it.”

Nothing More shares new ’Spirits’ track, “You Don’t Know What Love Means”

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Nothing More has premiered a new song called “You Don’t Know What Love Means,” which will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Spirits.

In a statement, frontman Jonny Hawkins says “You Don’t Know What Love Means” reflects the “emotional and intimate side” of Spirits.

“The lyrics and tone of this one feels like it hits in a similar way that ‘Go to War’ and ‘Jenny’ did,” Hawkins shares. “It’s going to feel huge playing this next one on tour.”

You can listen to “You Don’t Know What Love Means” now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.

“You Don’t Know What Love Means” is the fourth song to be released from Spirits, following “Tired of Winning,” “Turn It Up Like (Stand in the Fire)” and the title track. The album will arrive in full on October 14.

Nothing More will be touring the U.S. ahead of the Spirits release alongside In This Moment. The outing launches August 26 in Evansville, Indiana.

(Video contains uncensored profanity)

Into the flood again: Alice in Chains announces 30th anniversary vinyl ‘Dirt’ reissue

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Alice in Chains has announced a vinyl reissue of the band’s 1992 sophomore album Dirt in honor of its 30th anniversary.

The two-LP collection, which includes remastered audio of the original record, will be released September 23, six days before Dirt officially turns 30 on September 29.

The reissue will also be available as a super deluxe box set, which, along with the two LPs, also includes a remastered Dirt CD and each of the album’s five singles — “Them Bones,” “Down an a Hole,” “Rooster,” “Angry Chair” and “Would?” — on seven-inch vinyl, plus various memorabilia, including an 80-page photo book and exclusive art prints, posters and a reprinted set list.

The box set is available to preorder now via the Alice in Chains web store.

As previously reported, Alice in Chains is also marking the 30th anniversary of Dirt with an album-themed collection of Funko Pop! figures. Dirt was also recently certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA.

Meanwhile, you can catch Alice in Chains live on their U.S. tour with Breaking Benjamin and Bush. The outing, which just kicked off earlier this week, is currently scheduled into October.

All I Have to Give: 25 Years Ago, Backstreet Boys released their US debut album

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Twenty-five years ago today, Backstreet Boys released their self-titled debut U.S. album … and they’re still performing most of the songs from it every night on tour.

This 1997 album was actually a compilation of two international albums: a 1996 release also called Backstreet Boys and a 1997 release called Backstreet’s Back. It initially debuted at #29, but thanks to the success of the group’s first big U.S. hit, “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),” its popularity continued to grow.

In five months, the album had climbed to its peak — #4 — and sold 2 million copies. By the end of 1998, it was the third best-selling album of the year, with more than 5.7 million copies sold. To date, it’s sold more than 14 million copies.

In addition to “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),” Backstreet Boys also included many of the group’s most beloved songs, including, “All I Have to Give,” “As Long as You Love Me,” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” “I’ll Never Break Your Heart,” “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” and “Get Down (You’re the One for Me).”

The success of Backstreet Boys helped set the stage for the release of their next album, Millennium, which set a record for most copies sold in a single week — 1.124 million — when it arrived in 1999. Millennium went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time, with 24 million copies sold.

And while BSB has gone on to release many more albums since then, the impact of Backstreet Boys can be seen in the group’s current set list, which includes no less than seven songs from that album. Their current DNA World Tour is set to wrap up this November; their first holiday release, A Very Backstreet Christmas, arrives October 14.

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