President Trump 'Let Me Be Clear ...' Finally Condemns White Supremacists
President Trump is finally saying the words he failed to say at the first presidential debate -- "I condemn all white supremacists."
Trump called in to his friend Sean Hannity's Fox News show Thursday night to talk about his performance at the first debate vs. Joe Biden ... and try to put the Proud Boys controversy to rest.
He said, "Let me be clear again -- I condemn the KKK. I condemn all white supremacists. I condemn the Proud Boys." Trump re-insisted he doesn't know much about the Proud Boys hate group ... but he's against what they do.
This, of course, is in stark contrast to his response 48 hours earlier when debate moderator Chris Wallace asked him to denounce white supremacy. Instead, he told the Proud Boys to "Stand back, and stand by."
On Wednesday, while talking to the press at The White House about the outrage he caused, he denied knowledge of the Proud Boys and again danced around a flat-out denouncement of white supremacy.
Interestingly, when Trump spoke to Hannity it was about 6:30 PM PT -- 90 minutes after we'd learned his aide, Hope Hicks, tested positive for COVID-19, but before his test results were back. He did discuss having to go into quarantine, but only after addressing the debate and white supremacy.
The President also went to his regular playbook and called out Biden, saying Joe needs to condemn Antifa and apologize for his history on race issues.
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Melania Trump Secret Audio, Separating Border Moms and Kids ... 'Give me a f***ing Break!'
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Melania Trump fumed during a secretly-recorded conversation, railing on the criticism President Trump received over separating mothers from their children at the border and expressing extreme frustration about the way the "liberal media" treats her and her husband.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania's former aide and former best friend, Linda Tripped her, recording their conversation without the First Lady's knowledge. Melania was venting about the attacks she fielded over separating mothers and kids at the border, saying, "Give me a f***ing break!" She went on, "Where they were saying anything when Obama did that?"
The First Lady talked about her trip to the border and how she was thwarted in reuniting a child with the mother ... "I was trying to get the kid reunited with the mom. I didn't have a chance -- needs to go through the process and through the law." She says the press would not cover her efforts, saying, "They would not do the story because they, they, they are against us, because they're the liberal media." And, then she said ... "Yeah, if I [go] to Fox, they will do the story. I don't want to go to Fox."
And, then there's Saint Nick. In the recording, first played on CNN, Melania says, "Where I am, I put, I'm working like my ass off at Christmas stuff that you know, who gives a f*** about Christmas stuff and decoration. But, I need to do it, right?"
Does everybody secretly tape everybody in the world of Trump?
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Kyrie Irving I Wasn't Taking A Shot At LeBron!!! ... I'd Say His Name If I Was
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4:59 PM PT -- Kyrie is clearing the air on his comments ... saying he was NOT throwing shade at LeBron or any of his former teammates.
"Why must it always be brother against brother? Why?," Kyrie said. "If I'm addressing anyone, I'll say their name."
He continued ... "Don't listen to the false narratives. Let people live their lives. It's just a game."
1:05 PM PT -- Tristan Thompson, who played with Kyrie in Cleveland said, on "The Herd" on FS1, he's "hoping" the comments were just a bonding strategy to get closer to KD ... and points out there were SEVERAL guys on the Cavs who could make clutch shots.
TT also points out LeBron is currently playing in the Finals ... "He's a pretty good player, so if I give him the ball, I'm pretty sure he'll make shots, too."
Kyrie Irving says he's never trusted his old teammates with hitting clutch baskets ... admitting he's always "felt like I was the best option" until he joined Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.
So ... LeBron, what's good?!?
The NBA superstar joined KD's "The Boardroom" podcast this week to discuss teaming up on the Nets ... and the dude pretty much shaded the hell out of King James in the process.
10 seconds left. Who you got taking the shot?? 😰
— Boardroom Podcast Network (@boardroompods) October 1, 2020 @boardroompods
Part 2 of @KDTrey5 x @KyrieIrving on #TheEtcs is out now on all podcast platforms → https://t.co/Tx4kiTgwF9 pic.twitter.com/HBpKMtm30s
The question was -- 10 seconds left in a close game, who takes the final shot?? Kyrie said it goes to the hot hand ... and then dropped this:
"One thing I've always been comfortable with is I felt like I was the best option on every team I've played for down the stretch," Uncle Drew said.
"This is the first time in my career where I can be like ... 'that motherf**ker can make that shot, too!"
Now, Kyrie DID hit the dagger 3 pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win their first title in franchise history ... but LBJ has hit his fair share of clutch shots throughout his career.
It's no secret Kyrie demanded out of Cleveland and wanted do his thing away from LeBron ... but now it seems he didn't think the 4-time MVP was a killer in the clutch.
There's more ... Kyrie also talked about his new coach, Steve Nash ... saying he doesn't really see him as a "head coach" ... and thinks the team of KD, Nash, assistant Jacque Vaughn and himself as being head coaches by committee.
KD agreed ... saying "It's a collaborative effort."
Originally published -- 11:07 AM PT
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Louisiana Trooper Recording 'I Beat The F*** Out Of Him' ... Reportedly Talking About Black Man's Death
"I beat the ever-living f*** out of him."
Those were the words reportedly spoken by a Louisiana State trooper implicated in a Black man's death ... according to a recording that's just surfaced.
"And I beat the ever-living fuck out of him."
— tiffany (@NotTiff_Tiffany) October 1, 2020 @NotTiff_Tiffany
"And then he went limp."
Louisiana State Trooper audio after he murders #RonaldGreene pic.twitter.com/lb5wWLUHZE
The audio -- captured by a police body cam mic -- is a 27-second clip featuring Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth recalling the May 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene in Louisiana.
The Associated Press, which first obtained the audio, says that's Hollingsworth saying he choked Greene, and at least 3 cops were wrestling with Greene while he was handcuffed and bleeding ... until "all of a sudden he just went limp."
Greene's death, which Louisiana troopers initially said was caused by a car crash at the end of a pursuit, is now the subject of a federal civil rights investigation.
The audio was part of a phone conversation between Hollingsworth and a colleague, according to the AP. Hollingsworth died last week in a car accident.
Lee Merritt, an attorney for Greene's family, is now calling on authorities to release the full body cam footage of Greene's interaction with state troopers.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told reporters last week footage of Greene’s arrest would be released to the public at the conclusion of federal and state investigations.
Hollingsworth was 1 of 6 Louisiana troopers put on leave last month after an administrative investigation, which State Police just opened in August. His fatal car crash happened just hours after he found he was being suspended.
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Aurora PD Hobbled Woman Screams for Help for 20 Mins 'This is Slavery S***!!!'
A Black woman arrested by an Aurora, CO police officer was cuffed, hogtied and thrown in a patrol car ... where she rode upside down, begging for help for 20 minutes, as she feared she would die.
The disturbing video shows 28-year-old Shataean Kelly being arrested on Aug. 27, 2019 on charges resulting from a fight. After Officer Levi Huffine cuffs her and puts her in the back of the patrol car, he claims she tried to escape by grabbing the door handles. Huffine then decides, "I'm going to hobble her" ... tying her handcuffed hands to her feet ... also known as hogtying.
While on the backseat, Kelly unloaded insult after insult on the cop, clearly feeling she should not have been arrested. But, the situation turned much scarier for her when she slipped off the backseat headfirst onto the floor with her legs up in the air.
Almost immediately she started pleading for her life, fearing she might break her neck or her arms ... or suffocate. At one point she sadly whimpered, "This is some slavery s**t," and "How many times I gotta beg you master?"
Aurora PD is releasing the footage because Huffine was fired in February over the incident, and is appealing his termination.
Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson points out that the backseat door handles are inoperable and she believes Huffine was "punishing" Kelly.
Chief Wilson says she believes this was a form of torture by the officer, and adds he's lucky Kelly didn't die of asphyxiation, "Because he would be -- in my opinion -- in an orange jumpsuit right now" if she had.
Despite Kelly repeatedly screaming, "Please don't let me die back here" ... Huffine never replied or stopped the vehicle to move her into a safer position. Kelly at one point is heard saying, "I never felt so much racism in my life."
All criminal charges against Kelly were eventually dropped, and Huffine's termination appeal is under review.
It should be noted ... this incident occurred just 3 days after the Elijah McClain incident in Aurora on Aug. 24, 2019, during which he was allegedly placed in a chokehold by police and sedated by paramedics.
McClain went into cardiac arrest while being transported to the hospital. He was declared brain dead 3 days later and died on Aug. 30.
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Landon Donovan Pulls Pro Soccer Team From Field ... After Alleged Homophobic Slur
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Landon Donovan's pro soccer team straight-up walked off the field in protest Wednesday ... after a member of his squad claimed an opponent used a homophobic slur on the pitch.
Donovan's San Diego Loyal team was playing against Phoenix Rising FC in a USL game in San Diego ... when one of Landon's players said a verbal insult was hurled his way just before halftime.
The player, Collin Martin -- an openly gay man -- reportedly claimed Junior Flemmings called him a "batty boy" ... which is known in Jamaican dialect as an anti-gay slur.
Donovan, Martin and the whole Loyal team were livid over the alleged comment ... and demanded referees or Phoneix Rising FC's coach remove Flemmings from the game.
In video of the argument between Donovan, the refs, and the Phoenix coach ... the U.S. Men's National Team legend can be seen and heard animatedly explaining his team's outrage.
"We need to get this out of our game!" Donovan said. "We need to get this out of our game!"
Donovan continued, "It's homophobia!"
When Flemmings was not removed at the start of the 2nd half ... Donovan's Loyal team took a knee and then left the field -- forfeiting a game it was leading 3-1.
The @SanDiegoLoyal took a knee as the second half kicked off, then walked off the field in support of their teammate, Collin Martin, who was called a homophobic slur.
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) October 1, 2020 @BonaguraESPN
Here is that moment: pic.twitter.com/2uWbPGq6h4
Afterward, Donovan explained that since one of his players had been racially abused in a game just a week ago ... they weren't going to stand for any kind of insensitive comments or actions on the field going forward.
"We went through a really hard incident last week in the L.A. match and we made a vow to ourselves, to our community, to our players, to the club, to USL, that we would not stand for bigotry, homophobic slurs -- things that don’t belong in our game."
The USL says it's investigating the incident, adding in a statement, "Foul and abusive language of any type has absolutely no place in our society and will not be tolerated in USL matches."
For Flemmings' part, he denies ever saying the comment ... writing in a post on social media, "At no point did I say a homophobic slur towards Collin Martin."
— Junior”Flemmo”Flemmings (@Flemmo_77) October 1, 2020 @Flemmo_77
"I do not know Collin personally, but I respect all of my opponents equally, Collin included."
Flemmings continued, "I am disappointed by San Diego's actions this evening as I have been mauled and ridiculed online with no opportunity to defend myself ... I stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ movement."
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Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Michael Rubin REFORM Alliance Scores Big Win ... Improving State's Probation System
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REFORM Alliance -- the criminal justice reform org launched by Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Michael Rubin and others -- is celebrating its first major victory with CA Gov. Gavin Newsom signing a new bill into law.
Newsom just put pen to paper on AB 1950 ... legislation which will drastically reshape Cali's probation system and give hundreds of thousands of Californians a better shot at exiting the criminal justice system for good.
Specifically, the new law limits adult probation sentences to a maximum of 1 year for misdemeanor, and 2 years for felony offenses. The theory is that will greatly reduce probation violations. REFORM campaigned hard for the bill, generating more than 3,000 emails to Newsom's desk.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
As you know, Meek knows personally how probation violations can unjustly derail someone's life, and his experience is part of the origin story of REFORM.
Meek's pal, and 76ers partner, Rubin says ... "This is exactly why we created REFORM -- to change laws and create a smarter criminal justice system focused on rehabilitation and redemption all while keeping communities safe."
He adds ... "We’re grateful for Governor Newsom and Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove’s commitment to making such meaningful change in California and we hope it sets a necessary precedent for state leaders across the country."
REFORM was created in early 2019 and co-founded by Robert Kraft, Clara Wu Tsai, Michael Novogratz, Dan Loeb, Robert Smith, and Laura Arnold ... and its CEO is Van Jones.
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President Trump Proud Boys, Who??? I Don't Know Them, But 'Stand Down'
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President Trump is walking back his ominous message to the far-right group, Proud Boys ... and now says he doesn't even know who they are.
Trump fielded questions on the South Lawn about the "stand back and stand by" remark he made when debate moderator Chris Wallace asked if he would denounce white supremacy.
He told the White House press corps ... "I don't know who the Proud Boys are" and asked reporters for a definition of the group -- which has been widely labeled a neo-fascist, male-only, politically violent organization.
The President added, "Whoever they are, they have to stand down -- let law enforcement do their work."
Interestingly, though, he was again asked straight-up if he denounces white supremacy. Watch how he dances around the question before finally responding ... but without ever saying the words, "white supremacy." Trump finally mutters ... "I've always denounced any form, any form, any form of any of that, you have to denounce."
The Prez then pivoted to attack the liberal left and Antifa instead, much like he did during the first presidential debate.
As we reported ... the debate has been widely panned as a disgrace -- or much worse -- and the ratings were way down from 2016. That could be the result of voters turned off by the nastiness or voters who've already decided just not watching.
Either way, it could be too late for this kinda damage control
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Rev. Al Sharpton Trump's 'Proud Boys' Messaging ... Opens Door to Violence at Polls
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President Trump refusing to condemn white supremacists and continuing to undermine confidence in the election has Rev. Al Sharpton concerned about division and voter intimidation.
Sharpton was on "TMZ Live" Thursday to address the President's ominous words -- "Stand back and stand by" -- for alt-right group the Proud Boys ... and his apparent encouragement of supporters to take to the streets if he's dissatisfied with the election.
According to Rev. Al, the message is clear -- Trump stands by white supremacy, and gave a hate group his stamp of approval Wednesday night.
Sharpton believes this could have dire consequences and deliver a blow to our democracy if voters are intimidated to go to the polls ... something he suggests is Trump's motive.
Al's not mincing words either -- he tells us there have been some bad U.S. Presidents, think slavery days, but he still feels 45 is now reaching an all-time low.
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Presidential Debate Aftermath Long Line for Passports ... Ready to Leave the 'S**tshow'?!?!
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Americans are preparing in droves to get outta Dodge after the disaster that was the first presidential debate ... or so it seems based on the line to get a passport.
The passport office in Times Square drew a flock of customers, all lined up Wednesday morning less than 12 hours after the debate ... or as CNN put it, the "s**tshow."
The NYC crowd played like a response to the head-to-head war of words between President Trump and Joe Biden, because fleeing the country is one of those things ya hear people -- on both sides -- say when they're pissed about politics.
We're told the folks in line were waiting for appointments with the Dominican Republic Consulate.
After last night, virtually everyone's unhappy. As we reported ... some lowlights of the chaotic debate included Biden referring to the President as a "clown," and Trump refusing to denounce white supremacy.
There were plenty of other disturbing comments and verbal attacks, and it's all resonating with the public.
As many viewers and pundits have said ... to hell with the candidates, the American people lost last night.
Sooo ... bon voyage?
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Daniel Cameron Didn't Raise Murder, Manslaughter Charges ... In Grand Jury Proceedings
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron now admits he never recommended the grand jury indict either of the 2 officers for shooting and killing Breonna Taylor.
Instead, Cameron says the case he presented to the grand jury is that the officers were fully justified in firing their weapons because Breonna's boyfriend had fired first at them. Cameron revealed some of his strategy in an interview with WDRB in Louisville ... saying, "Our recommendation is that [officers] Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were justified in their acts and their conduct."
Cameron also said he told the grand jury that the single witness who says he heard the police announce themselves before the raid ... changed his story. WDRB did not ask Cameron if he also told the grand jury that 12 other witnesses said they did NOT hear the police announce themselves -- and that's a huge point.
If the police didn't identify themselves ... Kenneth Walker, Breonna's boyfriend, would be justified in firing his legally owned firearm at people he believed to be intruders in her apartment.
One other thing ... Cameron said nothing about recommending a manslaughter charge to the grand jury. He says wanton endangerment was the only thing he felt he could prove beyond a reasonable doubt. However, police allegedly didn't provide medical assistance to Breonna for 20 minutes ... which would seem to put manslaughter -- legally defined as reckless disregard for human life -- on the table.
Fired officer Brett Hankison is the only indicted officer ... for firing his weapon into a neighboring apartment.
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Floyd Mayweather Sets Price to Fight McGregor and Khabib ... Shades Muhammad Ali
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Floyd Mayweather says he's down for a rematch with Conor McGregor -- but only for a $300 MILLION paycheck.
He's also down to box Khabib Nurmagomedov -- but again, he wants $300 million.
But, if you're hoping to see Floyd take on a legit contender, don't hold your breath -- Mayweather says he's only taking easy fights from here on out.
TBE spelled it out on Shannon Sharpe's "Club Shay Shay" podcast -- where he explained why his longterm mental health is more important than a paycheck ... which is why he'll only take fights he knows he can easily win.
"Conor McGregor can't punch," Mayweather said ... "He can't punch."
Floyd says he remembers taking a shot from Conor during their 2017 fight and thinking to himself, "Man, this dude punch so soft. It's cool."
Mayweather says he looks at fighters like his uncle, Roger Mayweather, and Muhammad Ali as cautionary tales ... saying, "Your health is your wealth."
Floyd says he's still training and working out -- and isn't far from his fighting weight ... but it doesn't sound like he has anything lined up just yet.
Of course, he's been mulling fights with Conor and Khabib for years but nothing has materialized.
OCTOBER 2018
There's more ... Mayweather also explained why he should be considered the greatest boxer of all time -- ahead of legends like Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano.
"Is Ali the same fighter that got beat by a guy with 7 fights? Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali when he only had 7 fights," Mayweather said.
"If we really tell the truth, what's the heavyweight guy that Ali fought 3 times? Ken Norton really beat Ali all 3 times. Go back and look at the fights."
Mayweather says he loves Ali ... but he's "just telling the truth."
He also spoke about Muhammad Ali's activism outside the ring -- and claims he would have done the same thing if he were around in the '60s.
"Ali will always be a pioneer because of what he stood for in that era. And, I commend him for that."
Ali famously refused to be drafted to fight in the Vietnam war and was subsequently stripped of his boxing titles.
Mayweather says, "And I would have done the same thing if I was in that era. He did what he was supposed to do in that era."
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Megyn Kelly Trump's Done Well in One Area ... He Won't Be a Sore Loser
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Megyn Kelly says President Trump's bombing on coronavirus and racial issues, but she gives him a passing grade overall on policy ... and has a bold prediction about how he'll handle it, IF he loses the election.
The former Fox News and NBC anchor joined "TMZ Live" Monday to give the Prez a report card of sorts for his first 4 years in office, and though she says his behavior and rhetoric are atrocious ... she feels his job performance is satisfactory.
Megyn says Trump's policies overall have been a success, especially for Republicans, but she also thinks he's done some good for the left and gives some examples.
That being said, Kelly concedes POTUS leaves a lot to be desired when issues require nuance or a healing hand ... like the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she thinks the virus would be a tough challenge for any President.
As for Megyn's bold prediction ... we ask her if Trump -- the same guy who feuded with her for challenging him on his history of sexist and misogynistic comments -- would attend Joe Biden's inauguration if he loses the presidency.
Her answer's surprising, but she's pretty confident about it.
DECEMBER 2016
As you'll recall, Megyn eventually buried the hatchet with Trump and even went on to interview him on his way to the White House ... and it seems like they're still on good terms.
Maybe she's hoping he'll be a guest on her new show. Kelly's formed her own independent production company and just launched her own podcast -- "The Megyn Kelly Show" -- which she hopes will connect with audiences without "the constraints or political agendas" of mainstream media.
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President Trump Tax Returns Finally Surface Reports of Massive Losses, Paid $750
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President Trump's infamously elusive tax returns have reportedly seen the light of day -- and they appear to paint a portrait of Houdini-like tactics that have allegedly allowed DT to avoid paying income taxes for years ... and a grand total of $750 in his first year on the job.
The NYT claims to have obtained tax-return data extending over two decades, including 2016 and 2017 ... years they report Trump paid a paltry $750 in income taxes in each year. Prior to that -- for at least 10 of the previous 15 years -- NYT says Trump paid $0 in income tax.
An attorney for the Trump Organization disputed the Times' findings ... and called them inaccurate ... asserting Trump had paid tens of millions in personal taxes to the feds over the past decade, including millions more since announcing his candidacy is 2015.
The Times says the attorney appears to be conflating "personal taxes" with income taxes -- noting DT has paid taxes for Medicare, Social Security and taxes for household employees.
As for how it's possible that Trump could've avoided paying income taxes for all those years -- as the Times reports -- it's because, based on the filings they've reviewed, he reported losing more money than he made ... in what they characterize as "chronic losses."
As for how rich the dude actually is ... the Times says the returns show he does own hundreds of millions in valuable assets, but they also claim he's hundreds of millions in debt as well, debts they say are coming due soon. So, it's really unclear how much he's worth.
The Times also reports that the returns do not show anything not previously known about Trump and Russia as far as business dealings are concerned. Just a quick glance at how much dough the dude was rolling in back in the 2000s because of "The Apprentice" and the licensing deals that followed -- the NYT says it amounted to upwards of $427 million all in. They also say some of that money was reinvested into other businesses -- including golf courses -- which have hemorrhaged cash.
Now, Trump has already caught wind of the report -- and he's calling it the usual ... fake news.
Trump says he's currently under audit by the IRS -- which the Times confirms, and explains it could cost the Prez a whopping $100M if they find that a $72 mil tax credit he once claimed is illegitimate.
The Times says more stories about what the returns supposedly depict will come in the weeks to follow.
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Breonna Taylor Case KY Ballistics Report Inconclusive On Bullet Hitting Mattingly
One of the ballistics reports used to determine who shot who in the moments leading up to Breonna Taylor's death appears to contradict the Kentucky AG's version of events -- or at the very least, offer a more complete view ... which is mired in uncertainty.
Reports say that the first ballistics report conducted by the Kentucky State Police -- first obtained by VICE News this week -- could not definitively say for a fact if the 9-mm bullet that struck LMPD Officer Mattingly was, in fact, from Breonna's BF, Kenneth Walker.
In relation to the bullet that went through Mattingly's leg -- which he asserted had come from Walker firing from down the hall -- the initial KSP report reportedly says, in part, "due to limited markings of comparative value, [the] item was neither identified nor eliminated as having been fired from #45." #45 pertains to the magazine in Walker's gun.
Steven Romines, attorney for Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, claims the prosecutors in the case “cherry-picked” evidence.
— CNN (@CNN) September 24, 2020 @CNN
“They presented whatever evidence they chose … to get the indictment that they wanted and it is a tragedy." https://t.co/03xm6HFznr pic.twitter.com/wTr3JFaBa1
Even more damning is the fact that one of Walker's attorneys, Steven Romines, recently claimed to CNN that he and his team had obtained an internal LMPD personnel record showing Officer Hankison (who was firing from outside) had actually been issued a 9-mm handgun at some point by the department, casting doubt on AG Cameron's claim that all the officers were using .40 caliber guns that night, and that Walker had the only 9-mm.
So, what does this all mean??? Basically, that AG Cameron might've possibly not been as forthcoming in describing the ballistics report's findings -- or which ballistics report he was actually referring to when saying evidence showed that Walker had hit Mattingly first.
Remember, there was a second ballistics report conducted by the FBI -- one which, in addition to the KSP ballistics report, was given to the grand jury to read -- but Cameron didn't say during his Wednesday presser which report he consulted when explaining the decision. It's also unclear what the feds concluded on this issue, and if there's a discrepancy.
The one thing that could make this moot -- namely, whether Mattingly was hit by Walker's bullet, or a fellow officer's bullet -- is the fact Walker admitted to firing a warning shot ... which, presumably, would authorize officers to use deadly force and return fire regardless.
Still, with what we know about the crime scene being potentially compromised in the immediate aftermath ... it's a troubling sign that brings up more questions than answers.
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CA Gov. Gavin Newsom New Law Allows Trans Prisoners To be Housed by Identity
California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed a new law allowing transgender prisoners in the State to be housed based on their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
Newsom signed SB 132 Saturday -- among other LGBTQ+-friendly legislation -- which will require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's officers to privately ask inmates during the intake process if they identify as trans, nonbinary or intersex.
If they do, the inmate can then be placed in a facility in which they feel most comfortable and safe.
Gov. @GavinNewsom just signed 2 huge bills designed to protect LGBTQ rights:
— Dustin Gardiner (@dustingardiner) September 27, 2020 @dustingardiner
-SB932 requires state to track COVID's toll on the LGBTQ community
-SB132 ends practice of forcing trans women to be housed in men's prisons
More: https://t.co/loJZ8ajSGN @Scott_Wiener @sfchronicle
The new CA law says an inmate's request cannot be denied based solely on a prisoner's anatomy, sexual orientation or another factor that may be present among other inmates at any given facility. What the state could deny a request over ... legit "management or security concerns," although Newsom didn't lay out exactly what that might mean.
If an inmate's request is denied, the state has to offer a written explanation as to why and offer that prisoner a meaningful opportunity to object. BTW, the law also requires prison guards to address inmates by their preferred pronouns and to search them based on their gender identities as well. It's being hailed as a step forward in the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s a deep honor to be part of the coalition that moved #SB132 forward. That coalition includes @TransLatina_C @tgijp @eqca @TransLawCenter @ACLU_CAP. Amazing advocates — both inside & outside prison — fought long & hard so trans people can be treated with dignity & respect.
— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) September 26, 2020 @Scott_Wiener
Of course ... there've been concerns raised about this new system, as some feel cis-gender heterosexual males can abuse the new policy to infiltrate female prisons ... and commit atrocities from the inside. However, the state senator who authored the bill, Scott Wiener, says he doubts that'll happen very often, if at all ... saying it's a false narrative that trans men or women are only out to get into certain gendered wings.
That said, it's not entirely clear how prison officials would go about filtering out inmates who might want to take advantage, especially if they're forced to go off that person's word.