Legal

One trail runner just wrapped the wildest marathon of his life ... and the finish line came courtesy of Donald Trump, who swooped in with a surprise presidential pardon after a record Grand Teton trail run somehow morphed into a federal fiasco.

Michelino Sunseri hopped on TMZ Live Thursday and reflected on the saga ... telling us how he was taking on a Grand Teton trail in Wyoming last year -- a historic path that’s been around since the '30s, leading to the 13,775-foot-high peak -- in an attempt to break the speed record ... when one switchback somehow turned him into Public Enemy No. 1, with record-keepers tattling to the feds.

Catch the clip, ’cause Michelino lays out the absurdity ... describing how there were more than 20 feds, some decked out in body armor with assault rifles, during his 2-day trial. An attorney visiting in support of his team -- a prosecutor who’s spent years going after actual murderers and rapists -- told him he’d never seen a circus like this!

Ray J is firing back at Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner with a lawsuit of his own after they sued him for defamation ... he says they were all in on the infamous sex tape, and it wasn't leaked against Kim's will.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Ray J reveals what he says actually went down with the sex tape. He claims he and Kim consensually shot a sex tape in 2003, and then in 2006 they discussed releasing it, and he says Kim insisted Kris be in charge of the release and commercial exploitation of the film.

In the lawsuit, filed by attorney Howard King, Ray J claims Kim and Kris have "spent two decades peddling the false story that the sex tape ... was leaked against her will."

Akon never should've been arrested, his team claims ... blaming the whole misunderstanding on a records-keeping issue.

A representative for the singer-songwriter tells us Akon already paid for the suspended license which resulted in his arrest ... but, the payment wasn't entered into the system properly.

We're told this clerical error -- a big one, if true -- will be rectified by the courts at Akon's hearing in early December.

Billie Eilish says Elon Musk's a "bad guy" for not giving away his fortune to those in need ... and she used some spicy NSFW language in order to get her point across.

The singer-songwriter shared her raw thoughts about the tech billionaire ... reposting a series of ideas for how Elon could use his massive wealth to save the planet after a new Tesla pay package put him on track to becoming the world's first trillionaire.

Eilish shares claims that Musk could end world hunger, save critically endangered species, or even rebuild all of Gaza with his money ... but instead, he chooses to hoard his wealth.

Rory Farrell of 'Rory & MAL' podcast fame is doing damage control after dozens of racist and hateful tweets resurfaced on the web ... including one that completely devalued Beyoncé's entire existence!!!

On Wednesday evening, Rory and his podcast cohosts Mal and Demaris hopped on X Spaces -- only to receive a tongue-lashing from several African-American journalists and hip hop fans upset with commentary he reposted several years ago on X, such as "Every black woman has either, wanted to, thought about, or actually f***ed a white guy #whitepeoplefacts" and "I've never saw a good looking black woman."

Commenters also caught him deleting some of the posts -- which date back over a decade -- in real time as the public town hall meeting heated up.

Rapper Justina Valentine was Wild 'N Out in the TMZ newsroom Thursday ... freestyling a certified banger for Harvey and Charles.

Watch the video ... Valentine had us turnt up, with a 10 out of 10 off-the-cuff rap.

We really shouldn't expect anything less ... she's spent nearly a decade coming up with improvised raps on "Wild 'N Out."

It looks like the Ice Spice romance has officially thawed out for Sauce Gardner -- the Indianapolis Colts defensive back was spotted leaving dinner with rapper Latto's sister, Brooklyn, on Wednesday ... this amid rumors they've been dating.

The former New York Jet was in Miami for Indy's Week 11 bye ... and hit up the popular restaurant Carbone to chow down during his time off.

The cameras captured the 25-year-old walking to his car with a few ladies -- one might be Latto herself, but it's hard to tell since she was covering her face with her hoodie -- and he opened the passenger door for Brooklyn before they drove off together.

Millie Bobby Brown is spreading Christmas cheer with her new line of underwear ... giving fans an early gift by dressing up as a sexy Elf on the Shelf.

This outfit probably won't keep Millie warm at the North Pole ... after all, it's just a skin-baring crop top and a pair of booty shorts with a thick black belt and a long Santa hat -- though it'll certainly get her fans feelin' a little hot under the turtleneck.

Millie said she's not an Elf on the Shelf ... but, instead, a "Mill on a sill" -- ready to report back to Santa on any naughtiness she spies.

Tremane Wood must be taking a huge breath of fresh air right about now -- because he was granted clemency just minutes before his scheduled execution.

The inmate -- who's been imprisoned at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester for over two decades -- was about to be put to death Thursday when the procedure was stopped by the Governor Kevin Stitt, according to the Associated Press.

Stitt accepted the Oklahoma prison and parole board's recommendation to have Wood's sentence commuted to life in prison without parole. Stitt has only granted clemency to a prisoner only once during his tenure as governor.

More health issues for Senator John Fetterman ... he's in the hospital after falling to the ground and smashing his face.

The Pennsylvania politician was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital Thursday after he "sustained a fall near his home" on an early morning walk ... according to his official X account.

Fetterman's team says he was hospitalized "out of an abundance of caution" and that further evaluation revealed "a ventricular fibrillation flare-up" that made him lightheaded and resulted in him "falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries."

Lindsey Halligan could end up having a bit more free time on her hands in the near future ... because her appointment as an acting U.S. attorney is being challenged in court.

FYI ... Halligan was appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in September by President Donald Trump, who handpicked her for the role, according to The New York Times.

She subsequently obtained indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James -- two of Trump's political opponents.

Winning the top prize on "Dancing with the Stars" is usually a big deal for celebs ... but not for Bobby Bones, who revealed Wednesday he sent the Mirrorball trophy back to ABC.

FYI ... the radio host competed on the show's 27th season back in 2018, when he was paired with Sharna Burgess, and they ended up winning the top prize at the end of the season.

Bobby said he decided to let go of the Mirrorball trophy after former "DWTS" host Tom Bergeron spoke to Parade earlier this month and said he was "shocked" when Bobby came out on top of the other contestants. Tom felt other contestants' performances were superior to Bobby's.

Lady Gaga put on a brave face for the cameras while shooting "A Star Is Born" ... even as she was dealing with issues so serious she needed psychiatric medication to handle them.

The singer-songwriter discussed this difficult chapter in her life during an interview with Rolling Stone ... telling the outlet she was taking lithium -- a mood stabilizer -- while filming her Oscar-nominated turn in the 2019 film.

It's unclear why Gaga needed the medication ... but, shortly after filming wrapped, she says she had to put her "Joanne" world tour on hiatus after suffering what the magazine calls a "psychotic break."

Zachery Ty Bryan is speaking out following his latest instance of domestic violence ... calling the situation a "painful wake-up call."

The "Home Improvement" alum tells TMZ he's on a "journey toward personal growth" and that he is taking full accountability for his previous violent actions. -- and discusses his latest brush with the law.

As we reported, the woman was granted a 5-year restraining order Wednesday after she made allegations to police that Zach physically and verbally abused her in July, but no criminal charges have been filed to date.

Zach says he "deeply" regrets any pain or harm he's caused, noting ... "domestic violence in any form is unacceptable."

Antonio Brown is once again a free man -- at least for the time being -- the former NFL star posted bond and was released from county jail in Miami ... and TMZ Sports has video of AB leaving, flanked by his attorney.

37-year-old Brown had been in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County since Tuesday evening ... when he was escorted by plane from another jail in New Jersey.

AB went before a judge for the first time on Wednesday morning, and bond was set at $25k. Brown also agreed to be placed on a minimally restrictive house arrest, wear an ankle monitor, and steer clear of the alleged victim.

Sound the alarm, there's a new Hollywood couple on the strip ... Blueface is out of prison and enjoying life with Hazel-E by his side!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with both Blueface and Hazel-E at TAO in Hollywood on Wednesday night ... and the newly free rapper stopped to buy her a bushel of roses from the guy on the street -- it was their first official date night and he wanted to make an impression!!!

It's a love story all about timing -- Hazel-E tells our cameras Blueface first reached out to her via DM ... on the wedding day of her eventual failed marriage to DéVon Waller in 2019.