Legal

Ron DeSantis is defending the Lindsay Clancy holdout in the wake of a bombshell report that revealed a history of alleged domestic violence and an active restraining order.

The Florida governor took to X on Friday to accuse the media of launching a smear campaign against the juror.

He wrote ... "A man objected to allowing a woman to kill her three young kids and get away with it, so NBC is trying to smear that juror, whose identity should be protected. Another low for legacy media."

The CIA officer who allegedly stashed 300 gold bars in his house may be able to keep the case out of the public eye ... because federal prosecutors and his lawyers say they're working on a plea deal.

David Rush -- a former intelligence officer -- and the Justice Department submitted a joint filing in court Friday, according to multiple reports, claiming they have a "plea agreement in principle."

The two sides are asking the judge to extend a deadline until October 8 so the two sides can "prepare the paperwork, including an agreed upon statement of facts."

Lil Durk has been exonerated in his murder-for-hire case ... because a jury found him not guilty on all five charges.

After 3 days of deliberation, the jury returned a not guilty verdict regarding his alleged involvement in a fatal 2022 shooting in L.A.

As you know, prosecutors argued that Lil Durk had hired a hit team to kill rival rapper Quando Rondo ... but shot his cousin instead.

The former male escort suing Diddy and Cassie over alleged trauma from their freak-offs says he's got photos that will help prove his case ... claiming the images show him being flown out and put up in hotels for marathon sex sessions.

TMZ obtained new legal docs filed by Clayton Howard, the former sex worker turned law student who testified in the Diddy criminal trial, as he tries to save his lawsuit against the former couple.

Clayton submitted an amended lawsuit with photos attached. He says the first photo was taken on December 16, 2016, and shows the view from a seat on a plane. During the trial, prosecutors revealed how Diddy would hire male escorts and fly them across the country to have sex with Cassie while he watched and gave instructions, so this seems to be what Clayton's getting at.

Kroy Biermann Jr. has officially been granted bond in his sexual battery case ... though it sounds like he may have some major hurdles to navigate because the judge says one scenario would require him to stay the hell away from anyone under the age of 16 ... a daunting task for a 15-year-old.

The court set Kroy Jr's bond at $200k. The judge said he will have to live with his mom and attend school online. Kroy Jr. will not be allowed to use social media or a cell phone ... and cannot have contact with anyone 16 or under. He will also have to wear an electronic monitoring device.

The court hearing took place on Friday in Georgia -- where prosecutors claim they found videos on his phone showing him having sex with an underage relative -- and featured a moment where conditions of bail were discussed.

The juror on the Lindsay Clancy trial who was the lone holdout reportedly has a history of alleged domestic violence against his family ... according to a new bombshell report.

According to an investigation by Boston's NBC10 that doesn't name the member of the jury, the man has an active restraining order against him and his landlord is trying to evict him.

The juror -- who single-handedly prevented a unanimous not guilty verdict -- was reportedly previously charged with assault after allegedly grabbing his then-wife by throat and throwing her into a dresser -- a charge that was later dismissed, and the couple divorced.

Kroy Biermann Jr.'s lawyer is firing back at claims prosecutors made about the 15-year-old in court ... namely, allegations that KJ had videos on his phone showing him having sex with an underage family member.

Jason B. Sheffield is repping the son of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak and former NFL player Kroy Biermann in his sexual battery case ... and during Friday's bond hearing, prosecutors made some shocking claims about a prior case, which was previously unknown.

Sheffield tells TMZ ... "The characterizations made in court regarding the prior juvenile matter involving KJ Biermann grossly misrepresent both the facts and the ultimate resolution of that case."

The biggest Lindsay Clancy jury revelation is the sole holdout on the panel actually did change his vote, and that could make it more difficult for Clancy to appeal the mistrial.

When Paula Devlin spoke to Gayle King on "CBS Mornings," she said the holdout juror refused to vote not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility -- like the other 11 jurors -- because he doubted Clancy was having a psychotic break when she killed her 3 kids and attempted to kill herself.

She also revealed the holdout, a Black male, initially wanted to find her guilty of first degree murder. However, Paula says that changed after they reviewed video of Clancy's interview with investigators. She doesn't say where he landed, but presumably it would be guilty of either second degree murder or manslaughter.

12:13 PM PT -- Video from inside the courtroom shows KJ's lawyer talking to the judge during the hearing, explaining why KJ's case should play out in juvenile court to keep things away from the media and public. The attorney also mentions the polygraph test Kim claims her son took and passed.

The judge did not make a ruling on the juvenile court ask ... taking more time to mull it over.

10:48 AM PT -- Kim Zolciak and her daughter Brielle Biermann were seen leaving after Court on Friday.

Kroy "KJ" Biermann Jr. had videos on his phone showing him having sex with an underage relative ... according to prosecutors in his sexual assault case.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann's eldest son appeared in a Georgia court Friday as part of a bond hearing ... and Page Six reports the prosecution claims investigators found videos on KJ's cell phone which they say depict the 15-year-old having penetrative sex with a relative under 12 years old.

It's unclear how old KJ was when the alleged videos were taken.

Deputy District Attorney Caitlin McGillicuddy claims there were "multiple encounters" on video found on KJ's phone. She also claims KJ uses "predatory, derogatory" language toward the alleged victim in the videos.

Kroy Biermann Jr.'s alleged victim -- who says he sexually assaulted her in a gym changing room -- told a judge she's being threatened because of her allegations.

The teenager -- whose name has not been released, though she is a classmate of Kroy Jr.'s -- spoke in a Georgia courtroom on Friday at KJ's bond hearing ... and made an emotional plea to the judge.

The alleged victim says she's been scapegoated in the last few weeks ... telling the judge she's lost friends, and people think she's disgusting. She adds she's received threats from mutual friends who say if Kroy Jr. is released, he'll come after her.

NBA star Tyler Herro is firing back at his ex-girlfriend Katya Henry's request for "safeguards" for his child custody time ... TMZ has learned.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard denied Katya's assertion that there needs to be special provisions when he sees their two minor children to ensure their safety and well-being.

In her custody petition, Katya said she was making the request due to Tyler's "historical conduct," but did not elaborate. Tyler is denying her characterization of his conduct ... essentially saying his ex was full of it.

McKenna West's last-ditch bid to try taking her wild surrogacy case before the Supreme Court is being slammed by the biological parents of the critically ill baby she carried.

Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed's lawyer, Lee Budner, described the surrogate's latest legal attempt as containing "defamatory lies about Rumi's parents and his medical care, and mischaracterizations of the law."

The California couple's attorney pointed out court rulings in Alaska, California and Texas have already gone in their favor ... saying, "This means that every Court to consider McKenna West's claims has ruled that Rumi's parents are Omar and Nausheen." 

Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey from Netflix's "Making a Murderer" are hoping to get shorter sentences for the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach, because they've applied to the governor's commutation advisory board.

According to court docs obtained by FOX11 in Wisconsin, Avery continued to maintain his innocence in his application, writing ... "I did not commit this crime. I feel bad for Teresa Halbach's family because they had to suffer such a tremendous loss. But I did not cause their loss."

Avery wrote that he has a good prison conduct record and hopes his letters of support from family and friends would be enough to sway the board. He says that if he's released, he plans to start his own autobody business.

Kodak Black has beaten the rap again ... this time, prosecutors decided NOT to charge him in a drug trafficking case ... one day after another criminal case was also dismissed in the Florida.

On Friday, prosecutors filed docs saying there was insufficient evidence to prove the rapper possessed contraband during a November 2025 police encounter in Orlando. According to an arrest warrant, police say they found a pink bag with MDMA and $37K, as well as "numerous documents" with the name Bill Kapri -- Kodak's legal name.

Cops say the bag looked like the same one that appeared in one of Kodak's Instagram posts. At the time, Kodak was not arrested, but, after further investigation, police busted him this past May and booked him for drug trafficking. Police say the MDMA they found in the bag weighed 25.34 grams -- well over the trafficking weight of 14 grams.

But now prosecutors say they will not be filing charges in the matter. 

Kim Zolciak and her daughter Brielle Biermann left Kroy Jr.'s sexual battery hearing Friday ... keeping quiet as members of the media peppered them with questions about the case.

KJ's mom and older sister walked out of the Georgia courthouse in matching black dresses, with several officers providing them protection as they navigated a media scrum.

The two quietly climbed into a waiting black SUV, then drove off.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is being dragged to court over the infamous X2 roller coaster ... just weeks after the ride was grounded.

According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Patrick Plumlee claims he was "violently thrown around" in 2024 while riding the coaster.

Plumlee says he couldn't keep his head against the headrest during the ride and smashed his dome against it … causing him to suffer a "traumatic brain injury."