RadioRob

Published by Radar Online MEGA Flight logs for Jeffrey Epstein’s private jets were released as evidence in the current federal trial against Ghislaine Maxwell, and the logs allegedly show that former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton flew on the late financier and convicted sex offenders jets more often than previously believed. According to the new logs released as evidence this week, Trump flew on Epstein’s jets stretching as far back as 1993. In fact, the former president flew on the private jets four times in 1993, once in 1994, once in 1995, and once in 1997. Although there are no last names for all of the guests that flew along with Trump, the logs say that he was joined by a Marla and a Tiffany – believed to be his ex-wife wife Marla Maples and his daughter Tiffany Trump – during the one flight in 1994. Trump’s son Eric is also documented in the logs as having joined his father on the one flight in 1995 from Palm Beach to New York City. Even though Trump flew on Epstein’s planes more than previously thought, it was still not as many times as former president Bill Clinton. MEGA Clinton flew on Epstein’s private jets a total of nine times, according to the newly released flight logs that only documented the flights made between April 1991 and January 2006. Besides Trump and Clinton, other high-profile individuals documented in the flight logs include Bobby Kennedy Jr. – who was a passenger on two flights in February 1994, former U. S. Senator George Mitchell – who was a passenger on one flight in April 1994, and Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman – who was a passenger on several previously undisclosed flights between 1991 and 2006. As Radar reported yesterday, these newly released flights logs come as the prosecution and defense started their closing arguments in Ghislaine Maxwell’s federal sex-trafficking trial, where the British socialite and former lover and confidant of Jeffrey Epstein is being accused of grooming and recruiting young girls for the late sexual predator. Maxwell has categorically denied all sex-trafficking allegations against her, and claims she is being utilized as a scapegoat for Epstein’s crimes. The trial is still ongoing, but if found guilty of the charges, Maxwell is facing nearly 80 years in prison. MEGA View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis have pledged their support to the women who have accused Chris Noth of sexual assault. The ‘And Just Like That…’ actresses have been left “deeply saddened” by the allegations made against their former co-star – who reprised his ‘Sex and the City’ role as Mr. Big for just one episode of the new reboot before being killed off – and praised his accusers for having the strength to speak out. They said in a joint statement: “We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth. “We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences. We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.” Last week, two women came forward to The Hollywood Reporter to allege they had been sexually assaulted by the 67-year-old actor. A woman, identified only as Zoe, alleged he had “raped her from behind” in 2004 when she was just 22, and another known as Lily claimed she was 25 and had had a dinner date with the actor in New York before he allegedly assaulted her in 2015. The Daily Beast then published an account from a female tech executive who alleged Noth had sexually assaulted her in 2010 at a New York City restaurant where she worked as a hostess and lounge singer. The actor – who was recently fired from ‘The Equalizer’ and dropped by his talent agency in the wake of the claims – has denied the allegations. He said in response to the Hollywood Reporter piece: “The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false. “These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago — no always means no — that is a line I did not cross. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.” Noth – who has been married to Tara Wilson since 2012 – also branded the third woman’s claim a “complete fabrication”. But he has pledged to co-operate if police get involved. His lawyer, Andrew Brettler, said: “No one from any law enforcement agency has contacted Chris or any of his representatives. Obviously if anyone does reach out, we will cooperate fully.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Andy Cohen has recovered from COVID-19 for the second time. The 53-year-old TV star has revealed he’s now “all better” after recently contracting the virus for the second time since the start of the pandemic. The ‘Watch What Happens Live’ host was asked by a fan on Twitter: “Andy, did you get the covid and was that why all the WWHLs were reruns? (sic)” And in reply, Andy – who is fully vaccinated – said: “Yes! All better now.” Andy was diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks ago, quarantined at home and has subsequently tested negative, according to TMZ. Andy announced news of his first COVID diagnosis on Instagram, near the start of the pandemic. The TV host explained what he was “putting a pin” in his show to focus on his recovery from the virus. He wrote on the photo-sharing platform at the time: “After a few days of self-quarantine, and not feeling great, I have tested positive for Coronavirus. As much as I felt like I could push through whatever I was feeling to do #WWHL from home, we’re putting a pin in that for now so I can focus on getting better. (sic)” Andy also urged his followers to adhere to the expert advice at the time. He said: “I want to thank all the medical professionals who are working tirelessly for all of us, and urge everybody to stay home and take care of themselves.” Andy experienced a range of symptoms during his first COVID experience – including fever, fatigue, a cough, and a loss of smell – and he previously admitted that it took him some time to regain his energy. He shared: “It took about ten or 11 days, I would say, to work through my system. You know, It takes a bit to get your energy back.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Bonner County Sheriff’s Office An Idaho man has been charged with murder and cannibalism after allegedly killing a 70-year-old man and eating his flesh in the hopes it would “cure his brain.” According to the Bonners Ferry Herald, 39-year-old James David Russell is suspected of murdering David Flaget in September after some of Flaget’s tissue was found within Russell’s home. The victim’s body was also reportedly found in a car outside of Russell’s home on September 10. Part of the victim’s body was allegedly missing, according to newly released court documents. Authorities also found a bloodied microwave, a glass bowl, a bloodied knife, and a duffle bag at the suspect’s home. “When dealing with death and carnage it’s a shock to our conscience,” Phillip Stella, a Bonner County Detective, said last week. “As far as I know this is the first cannibalism charge in Idaho.” According to court documents, the authorities received a report about a possible murder on September 10, and once arriving at the scene they found Flaget’s dead body upside down in his truck. “There’s a lot of facets we will certainly never know,” Stella also said regarding Russell’s alleged crime. “It wasn’t the bloodiest crime scene, but it’s more of the psychological, ‘what the heck is going on here?’ and ‘why am I picking up pieces?’ It’s a walk down the dark path that we don’t see very often.” According to the probable cause affidavit, Russell allegedly killed and ate his victim because he believed he could “heal himself by cutting off portions of flesh” in order to “cure his brain.” This was also reportedly not the first time Flaget had a run in with Russell. “Flaget had several conflict-like run-ins with Russell and told the family about them,” Stella said. “The family had enough warning signs that Mr. Russell was a danger to himself or others.” According to documents, court proceedings were paused in October after a judge found Russell unable to stand trial for the charge of first-degree murder and ordered him to the Idaho Security Medical Program, although the results of Russell’s mental health evaluation on October 5 are still sealed under court order. The next time Russell is reportedly scheduled to appear back in court will be for a review hearing on December 28. View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday accused unspecified cable television personalities and social media companies of making money by “peddling lies” about COVID-19 vaccines and spreading misinformation that can kill their viewers and followers. In a White House speech warning the unvaccinated of the dangers of the fast-spreading Omicron variant, Biden said: “The unvaccinated are responsible for their own choices.” But he added: “Those choices have been fueled by dangerous misinformation on cable TV and social media.” Biden did not identify any person or company by name, but the White House has been critical of Fox News and the network’s night-time hosts Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity. Biden previously criticized Facebook for allowing posts that spread vaccine falsehoods. “You know, these companies and personalities are making money by peddling lies and allowing misinformation that can kill their own customers and their own supporters,” Biden said. “It’s wrong. It’s immoral. I call on the purveyors of these lies and misinformation to stop it. Stop it now,” Biden said. A politically motivated disinformation campaign has helped fuel skepticism about the safety of vaccines in the United States against overwhelming medical evidence that shows they work and pose little risk. One in four American adults is not vaccinated. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Jarrett RenshawEditing by Heather Timmons and Howard Goller) View the full article

Brothers Osborne Are Releasing a Deluxe Edition of 'Skeletons' Album, With Three New Tracks 19 Published by Taste of Country Brothers Osborne have even more Skeletons to unearth in 2022. The duo have announced plans to put out a deluxe version of their third studio album, adding three songs for a total listing of 15 tracks. One of those songs is the Grammy-nominated “Younger Me,” which the Brothers put out as a stand-alone song in April. The song was co-written by the group’s T.J. and John Osborne, as well as singer-songwriter Kendell Marvel, and it’s a tender reflection dedicated to their younger selves, acknowledging that they “made it harder than it had to be” sometimes, but affirming that “Youth ain’t wasted on … Read More View the full article

The post after singing said, simply: Sit down and stay humble y’all … and kiss my motherfucking ass !!!!!⁣ ⁣ : @herb_ritts View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA A cute new arrival. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed a new addition to their family ahead of the holidays. On Monday, December 20, the 79-year-old shared a photo of a German Shepherd puppy on Twitter. “Welcome to the White House, Commander,” the tweet read. MEGA FLOTUS JILL BIDEN LOOKS LOVELY IN LEMON PRINT OSCAR DE LA RENTA DRESS WHILE BOARDING MARINE ONE WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN — PHOTOS The President also shared a video on Twitter with the caption “Meet the newest Biden” where he played with the pup. “Hey, pal. How you doing? How are you?” he was heard saying in the clip. “Welcome Home, Commander!” appeared on the screen over a series of clips of the Bidens and the new pet. The family previously owned two German Shepherds, but Champ died in June aged 13. Their dog Major also seemed to struggle to adapt to life in The White House. The pooch was the first-ever rescue dog to live in the White House, as he was adopted in 2018. As previously reported by OK!, Major is said to have been involved in what was described as a “biting incident” in March with a member of White House security. GET *PUP* CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH JOE BIDEN’S DOGS, CHAMP & MAJOR—THEIR CUTEST SNAPS MEGA The dog was returned to Delaware for a period of time after the incident. He was reportedly involved in another incident weeks after he returned to the White House. The was then sent to “off-site private training” before coming back to the White House in late April, USA Today reported. According to The New York Times, Major will be living in another home. “After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists and veterinarians, the first family has decided to follow the experts’ collective recommendation that it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends,” Jill’s spokesman, Michael LaRosa said. “This is not in reaction to any new or specific incident, but rather a decision reached after several months of deliberation as a family and discussions with experts.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sarah Jessica Parker damaged her feet after wearing heels so much during ‘Sex and the City.’ The 56-year-old actress – who played shoe-obsessed columnist Carrie Bradshaw in the hit 1990s comedy series and its new sequel ‘And Just Like That’ – revealed that she had “created a new bone” in her foot after wearing high-heels on set for up to 18 hours a day. She said: “I went to a foot doctor and he said, ‘Your foot does things it shouldn’t be able to do. That bone there … You’ve created that bone. It doesn’t belong there. For ten or so years, I literally ran in heels. I worked 18-hour days and never took them off. I wore beautiful shoes, some better made than others, and never complained.” During the original run of the show – which focussed on Carrie Bradshaw and friends Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon) and Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) as they navigated life in New York City – , Carrie wore a memorable pair of a pair of blue Manolo Blahnik Hangisi heels for during her wedding to Mr Big, but for the reboot series, producer Andy Cohen explained that the fashion would now reflect that of women in their 50s. He told Us Weekly: “From what I understand, it’s going to show the women living vibrantly in their 50s and at this stage in their lives. [Carrie] is not going to be running around in a tutu and high heels, they are going to be living in their 50s as beautiful women. I think it’s going to be a wonderful message.” View the full article

Jeff GreenGreen Gone Tech billionaire Jeff Green formally resigned from the Mormon church, officially known as The Church of the Latter-day Saints, this week citing the church’s anti-LGBTQ stance among other cultural oppositions held by the Mormon church. He marked his departure from the church by donating $600,000 to Equality Utah, one of the largest LGBTQ advocacy groups in the state of Utah. “While most members are good people trying to do right, I believe the church is actively and currently doing harm in the world,” Green wrote in a letter to church president Russell M Nelson. “I believe the Mormon church has hindered global progress in women’s rights, civil rights and racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights.” The Mormon church, to which the majority of Utah citizens belong, has historically opposed the advancement of LGBTQ civil rights. The church put its opposition to marriage equality into action in a challenge to California’s same-sex marriage statute in 2008. The church was a driving force in rallying support and financial contributions to the successful effort to repeal Proposition 8 before marriage equality was solidified at the federal level in 2015. Many of the church’s cultural positions Green cited in his letter are present on BYU’s campus. The school hasn’t recognized the on-campus LGBTQ student group BYU Pride and prohibits same-sex dating among students. The school is among a list of religious universities named in a class-action lawsuit alleging discriminatory practices toward LGBTQ students through a Title IX exemption. “Our goal is that all our students be treated with respect, dignity and love,” read a statement from the university to NBC News. “We are concerned when any of our students do not feel this way and greatly value the contributions our students make to BYU.” Mormon Church: Previously on Towleroad Canada Transgender Pastor Sues Former Church For Being Fired After Coming Out During Pride Month Sermon Brian Bell August 12, 2021 Read More Kansas City Christian School Reportedly Tells Teachers to Oust Out LGBTQ Students or Find Another Job Brian Bell May 10, 2021 Read More UPDATES: Colton Underwood is Single; Gay Documentary for Netflix, Family, Are His Priorities ‘Rather Than Focus On A Relationship’; Cassie Speaks: DEEP LINKS Towleroad April 17, 2021 Read More ‘Golden Calf’ Trends After Massive Statue of Trump is Wheeled into CPAC: WATCH Towleroad February 26, 2021 Read More Franklin Graham Instructs Followers to Pray Against ‘Equality Act’, Says It’s a ‘Smokescreen’ Forcing Americans to Accept the ‘LGBTQ Agenda’ Andy Towle February 25, 2021 Read More Ghanaian Journalist Comes Out on Live TV Amid Battle Over LGBTQ Community Center: WATCH Andy Towle February 24, 2021 Read More Screenshot via Twitter View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Michael Flynn, a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump, on Tuesday sued the congressional committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in hopes of blocking it from obtaining his phone records. Flynn alleged in a lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, that a subpoena issued to him by the House of Representatives Jan. 6 Select Committee was too broad in scope and punishes him for constitutionally protected speech he engaged in as a private citizen. Flynn also alleged in the lawsuit that the congressional committee “has no authority to conduct business because it is not a duly constituted Select Committee.” An appeals court has rejected that argument, ruling on Dec. 9 that the committee was valid and entitled to see White House records Trump has tried to shield from public view. The committee issued a subpoena to Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, in November, seeking testimony and documents about a “command center” at Washington’s Willard Hotel set up to steer efforts to deny Democrat Joe Biden his November 2020 election victory. Trump falsely claims he lost the election because of widespread electoral fraud. In the weeks after the election, Flynn urged Trump to deploy the military to overturn the results and gave speeches sowing doubts about the vote. A spokesman for the Jan. 6 Select Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Flynn’s lawsuit is the latest in a flood of litigation by targets of the committee seeking to prevent it from enforcing its subpoenas for testimony or communications. Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and founder of the right-wing website Infowars, filed a similar case on Monday. Trump has similarly sought to block the committee from obtaining his White House records from Jan. 6 and the preceding days, asserting they are protected by a legal doctrine called executive privilege. An appeals court rejected Trump’s arguments last week. He is expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Flynn was charged as part of former U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 U.S. presidential election won by Trump. Flynn, a retired Army general, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about interactions he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States in January 2017. He later sought to withdraw the plea, arguing that prosecutors duped him into a plea agreement. Trump later pardoned him. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Peter Cooney) View the full article

Published by AFP Pop superstar Beyonce and her rapper husband Jay-Z both made the shortlist for the best original song Oscar Los Angeles (AFP) – Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ariana Grande are all in the running for the best original song Oscar, but French shock-fest “Titane” did not make the shortlist for best foreign film, as the Academy unveiled its annual shortlists Tuesday ahead of the formal nominations. Pop superstar Beyonce’s ballad “Be Alive” — penned for the tennis biopic “King Richard,” about the father of Serena and Venus Williams (played by Will Smith) — was on a list of 15 tracks, which will be whittled down to a final five before March’s Oscars. She will compete against her husband Jay-Z, who produced Netflix Western “The Harder They Fall,” and teamed up with Kid Cudi for the movie’s track “Guns Go Bang.” Grande appears in satire “Don’t Look Up,” in which her pop star character sings “Just Look Up” to implore the public to take seriously the impending threat of a comet plummeting towards Earth. Billie Eilish’s 007 theme song “No Time To Die” also made the list. So did “Dos Oruguitas” from Disney’s animated film “Encanto,” a song composed by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who only needs an Oscar to complete the coveted EGOT collection of awards — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony. Fifteen contenders were unveiled for the international feature film Academy Award, from among 92 eligible movies. Each country is only permitted to submit one film. France boasts the most foreign film nominations of any country in Oscars history, but will watch from the sidelines this year after its selection, Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning body-horror “Titane,” failed to make the cut. The ultra-violent movie about a female serial killer who has sex with automobiles, before tricking a firefighter into believing she is his long-lost son, may have proven too controversial for Academy voters. The shortlist includes frontrunners such as Paolo Sorrentino’s coming-of-age drama “The Hand of God” (Italy) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” (Japan), based on a Haruki Murakami short story. Iran’s Asghar Farhadi — among a select group of auteurs to have won multiple foreign film Oscars previously with “A Separation” and “The Salesman” — again makes the cut with morality drama “A Hero.” The tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan is a step closer to its first Oscar nomination with “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom,” a comic drama about a reluctant young teacher who is sent to work in the world’s most isolated school. Denmark, which won the foreign film Oscar last year for “Another Round,” again has a strong contender in the form of “Flee,” which chronicles a gay Afghan refugee’s perilous journey to Europe. The animated film was also included in the shortlist for best documentary, which was also unveiled Tuesday. “The Rescue,” about the headline-grabbing 2018 race to save a Thai soccer team trapped in a cave, and Questlove’s “Summer of Soul,” about the huge but largely forgotten “Black Woodstock” festival that took place in 1969 Harlem, also made the cut. The final list of Oscar nominations will be revealed on February 8, and the awards will be handed out on March 27. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon stopped short on Monday of creating a list of extremist groups that military members cannot join and declined to say explicitly whether refusing to view President Joe Biden as America’s legitimate leader was a violation of policy. The U.S. military, like American society, is under political strain after years of divisive politics. A small minority of military servicemembers have refused orders to get vaccinated, after that issue became politicized, and some participated in the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Following the riot, the Biden administration, which took office on Jan. 20, spent much of the year working to clarify its definition of extremism and what kinds of military participation in extremist activity to explicitly prohibit, unveiling the results on Monday. The new definition includes everything from prohibiting “liking” extremist content on social media to fundraising or demonstrating for an extremist organization. Punishment, if there is any, could be up to local commanders. Still, the Pentagon stopped short of prohibiting membership in any group, from the Proud Boys to the Oath Keepers and the Ku Klux Klan, and avoided weighing in on specific scenarios, like a soldier’s view of the legitimacy of Biden as president. Trump has repeatedly falsely claimed that his 2020 election loss to the Democrat resulted from widespread voter fraud. “If we got into coming up with a list of extremist groups, it would be only probably as good as the day we published it because these groups change,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said at a news briefing. U.S. defense officials said, however, that the restrictions announced on Monday meant that meaningful, active participation in any such group would be impossible. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the military oversight committee in the House of Representatives, praised the updated policy. “Protecting our service members from the threat of violent extremism is far too important for partisan misinformation,” he said in a tweet. The Pentagon’s announcement came just weeks after the Pentagon’s Inspector General cited 294 allegations of extremist activity by U.S. servicemembers, including 10 allegations of trespassing at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and 102 allegations of participation in domestic extremist violence. There were also 70 allegations of racially motivated violent extremist activity and 73 allegations of anti-government or anti-authority extremism. ‘INCONSISTENT TRACKING’ The Inspector General faulted the Defense Department for failing to consistently track the data in a uniform way. “Until the DoD establishes DoD-wide policy for tracking and reporting allegations of prohibited activities, the DoD will continue to have inconsistent tracking … and difficulty validating the accuracy of the data,” it said. The Pentagon, in its report on extremism, said that available data generally shows that cases of prohibited extremist activity among servicemembers were rare. Kirby said officials had found about 100 cases in total, but acknowledged the Pentagon needed to do a better job collecting data. U.S. defense officials, explaining the new policy, said it would tap into existing tools that identify terrorist threats and spies in the ranks to better weed out extremist activity. But the goals and timeline for enforcement of the new policy were unclear, including when U.S. troops might start getting punished for inappropriate use of social media. Officials said they did not plan to regularly monitor Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites, raising questions about whether the new policy was a substantial departure from existing screening of U.S. servicemembers at key moments in their careers, including recruitment. Kirby stressed that the goal of the policy was not to prohibit political activity by U.S. servicemembers – something that would be difficult to do when members of the Reserve forces, for example, include government officials. “This isn’t about political leanings or partisan inclinations,” Kirby said, adding it was about “activity.” (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken and Peter Cooney) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Bryan Singer’s former assistant has accused him of a “traumatising” and emotionally abusive romantic relationship. Blake Stuerman – who met the ‘X-Men’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ filmmaker in 2009 when he was 18 and the director was 43 – has made allegations about the nature of their relationship, which ended after he was fired as his assistant in June 2013. In an essay for Variety, Stuerman alleged: “Up until a few years ago, I still defended Bryan in private. “If someone brought up the rumours of his alleged behaviour, I would deny them. It wasn’t until I began receiving treatment specifically for abuse and PTSD that I accepted what had actually happened. “I am a victim of abuse by a very powerful, very wealthy and very sick man. I am a victim of Bryan Singer.” He claimed he would often visit Singer’s home for a movie night where it was allegedly “expected that [they would] have sex”. He added: “It was then expected that we’d have sex or, at the very least, I would masturbate with him… “He would get very frustrated if I fell asleep before he was finished.” Stuerman also claimed he was “traumatised” after allegedly seeing Singer – who denied the allegations – assault someone at his home almost a decade ago. He said: “I heard loud yelling coming toward me. When I turned, I saw Bryan charging toward us screaming very angrily. “He violently attacked one of the guests near me. I grabbed Bryan and took him back into the house. His eyes were wild and full of rage. I had never seen him like this before. “We went to his room and he slammed the door. I found a shattered lamp on the floor and began picking up the pieces.” Singer’s lawyer Andrew Brettler has described the allegations as “uncorroborated, inflammatory, and highly defamatory”. He claimed Stuerman asked Singer “for money, for a job, and for a place to live”. He added: “Early in their relationship, he and Mr. Singer both expressed their affection for one another, but as time passed, Mr. Stuerman grew increasingly paranoid, delusional, and needy. It was then that Mr. Singer began distancing himself from Mr. Stuerman.” He didn’t address the allegation of Stuerman witnesses an assault, nor that they had a sexual relationship. He said: “Mr. Stuerman does not want to take any responsibility and/or accountability for the decisions he made and actions he took as an adult. “Rather, he spins a tale of alleged grooming and abuse, supposedly at the hands of Mr. Singer, even though Mr. Stuerman acknowledges he was a ‘willing participant’ in the relationship.” View the full article

Published by Reuters ZURICH (Reuters) – COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna does not expect any problems in developing a booster shot to protect against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and could begin work in a few weeks, Chief Executive Stephane Bancel said in an interview. Moderna hopes to start clinical trials early next year on a vaccine to protect against the fast-spreading Omicron variant but for now is focussing on a booster dose vaccine. “It only needs minor adjustments for Omicron. I don’t expect any problems,” Bancel said in an interview with the Swiss newspaper TagesAnzeiger published on Tuesday. The company was now awaiting important information on the variant to begin development. “That will take another week or two,” Bancel said. “It will take a few months before we can produce 500 million doses after (regulatory) approval. But our capacities are much higher today than a year ago,” he said. If approval bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Switzerland’s Swissmedic require further studies, that would add at least three months. “Some authorities want a study, others are still undecided. In my opinion, it depends very much on how severely the disease progresses,” he said. Following delivery delays and lags in production in early 2021, Moderna is now able to keep up with production targets and deliver orders on time. The company made between 700 million and 800 million COVID-19 vaccine doses this year, and expects to produce a higher number in 2022, boosting production from 100 million doses a month to 150 million. Additional production lines that are being built via a deal with Swiss-based drugmaker Lonza will become operational in the first quarter of 2022, boosting production, he said, adding the company for the first time had 30 million doses in stock. After signing preliminary agreements with Canada and Australia, Moderna has begun discussions with Switzerland over a so-called vaccine subscription that could ensure supply as it develops novel mRNA vaccine, and is interested in deepening ties with other regimes. “We have a number of new vaccines in development, for example against influenza or against the RS virus, which causes a respiratory disease that is fatal in the elderly and young children,” Bancel said. “We can combine these three mRNA vaccines into one dose and propose to governments to secure supplies for a certain amount for several years and then invest in a production facility in that country.” That would give those countries priority supply in the event of a new pandemic, he said. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Steve-O is launching his own X-rated website to share his own “explicit” content. The ‘Jackass’ star has opened up on his new adult platform ‘Steve-O Raw’, which reportedly features an image of him completely naked in a coconut and engaging in a sexual act. Asked if the platform will feature pornography, he told Page Six: “That depends on how you define pornography. “This page hosts all of my explicit, uncensored content, and there’s a lot of that.” The 47-year-old star decided against joining a pre-existing platform like OnlyFans as he wanted more control. He explained: “On OnlyFans you have to pay to unlock each piece of content, and there’s no live-streaming. “On my page, everything is already unlocked and playable once you’ve subscribed, and I have live-streaming, as well as regular giveaways and contests.” As well as the X-rated posts, the site also promises to give fans content which has been removed from other platforms, including “never-before-seen content” from ‘Jackass’ and Steve-O’s comedy special, as well as access to ‘Don’t Try This at Home’ movies, merchandise and meet and greets. He insisted he was “so sick” of restrictions on other social media platforms, and he sees his new site as a way to remain unfiltered. He added: “I got so sick of getting in trouble with just about every social media platform for ‘violating community guidelines’. “I’m just thrilled to finally be able to post the things I think are funny and awesome, without getting in trouble.” Earlier this year, the stunt performer celebrated 13 years of sobriety as he thanked his ‘Jackass’ family for helping him on his journey. Back in March, he wrote on Instagram: “So grateful to be celebrating thirteen years of sobriety today… thanks to everyone who helped me make it this far and, as always, thanks to @johnnyknoxville for giving me the loving nudge that started my journey!” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English TikTok has overtaken Google to become the world’s most popular domain for 2021. The video-sharing app jumped six places to take the top spot from the world’s biggest search engine, which ranked at number one in 2020 following research complied by technology company Cloudflare. In a blog post, Cloudflare wrote: “Let’s start with our Top Domains Ranking and 2021 brought us a very interesting duel for the Number 1 spot in our global ranking. Google.com (which includes Maps, Translate, Photos, Flights, Books, and News, among others) ended 2020 as the undefeated leader in our ranking — from September to December of last year it was always on top. Back then TikTok.com was only ranked #7 or #8.” Data collected by Cloudflare also shows that the viral social media app – where users can share videos of them dancing, completing challenges or lip-syncing -also knocked Facebook into third place when it took the top spot. Cloudflare continued: “There are other trends we can see comparing both years — for 2020 we only show data of the end of the year, after September (Cloudflare Radar was launched that month). For example, Facebook.com was steadily number #2 across 2020, but with TikTok.com going up Facebook is now a solid #3, followed by Microsoft.com (Office365 and Teams numbers are included there) and by Apple.com (App Store and Apple TV+ numbers are included), the same trend as in 2020.” The full list of the most popular domains of 2021 as collected by Cloudflare is as follows: 1. TikTok.com 2. Google.com 3. Facebook.com 4. Microsoft.com 5. Apple.com 6. Amazon.com 7. Netflix.com 8. YouTube.com 9. Twitter.com 10. WhatsApp.com View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Moving on? After going through a difficult breakup earlier this year, Jojo Siwaappears to be getting back into the dating game. The 18-year-old popstar — who came out as gay back in January — made her first public debut with another girl since calling things off with Kylie Prew back in October. In new photos obtained by Daily Mail, the Dancing With the Stars alum was seen enjoying a Lakers game with her rumored new girlfriend, Katie Mills. MEGA The new pair sat court side at the Staples Center where the Los Angeles team faced off against the Phoenix Suns. Both Siwa and the brunette beauty were clad in purple Lakers gear while rocking casual outfits and sneakers. JOJO SIWA REVEALS HER SPLIT WITH KYLIE PREW HAPPENED JUST HOURS BEFORE HER DISNEY NIGHT PERFORMANCE ON ‘DWTS’ The sighting comes after the Dance Moms alum announced her breakup with Prew, who she had previously been head-over-heels for since going public with their relationship in February. MEGA Siwa confirmed her and Prew’s split at the beginning of November when she appeared on Paris Hilton‘s “This is Paris” podcast, insisting that the exes were still close friends despite ending their romantic relationship. “I’ve yet to talk about this officially…but we broke up,” she spilled to Hilton at the time. “But she is literally still my best friend. I talked to her yesterday, she just got a new puppy. She’s awesome. She’s having the time of her life, I’m having the time of my life.” JOJO SIWA PROMISES TO MEET CARDI B’S DAUGHTER, MORE OF THE BEST MOMENTS FROM THE 2021 AMAS “I was very happy that it can be, because that’s all I wanted,” she admitted, insisting she is grateful for “all the fun times,” and that “nothing bad happened,” between the pair to cause the breakup. MEGA “It just is the definition of a cheesy saying of ‘right person, wrong time’ and I hate cheesy sayings, but they’re true,” Siwa continued. “Everything’s good. I’m good.” OK! reported the dance star opened up about her breakup again weeks later, where she seemed to be unsure about her hopes for dating in the future. “Single Jojo is funny,” she quipped. “Every day she’s like, ‘I want to marry somebody,’ and then the next day she’s like, ‘Ugh, I’m so happy to be single.'” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA For the first time in four years, when sexual misconduct allegations against James Franco first came to light, the 43-year-old actor is speaking out about his past behavior and offering insight into what may have been lying underneath. Radar obtained a portion of the transcript of Franco’s interview on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast – which won’t debut in full until Thursday – during which he explained how his various addictions to alcohol and sex played a role in how he operated. While Franco did not go into detail about the specifics of the claims against him, he did admit that he was “completely blind to power dynamics” as well as to “people’s feelings.” As for why he waited so long to address the allegations publicly, he insisted he needed time to absorb, process, learn and grow. As for why he chose to speak now, he said Seth Rogen‘s public distancing made him realize he doesn’t want anyone to have to speak on his behalf. “In 2018, there were some complaints about me and an article about me, and at that moment, I just thought I’m gonna be quiet. I’m gonna pause. Did not seem like the right time to say anything,” Franco told Cagle. “There were people that were upset with me, and I needed to listen.” The actor went on to reference a writer from whom he claims he learned the following: “When something like this happens, the natural human instinct is to just make it stop. You just want to get out in front of it, and whatever you have to do apologize, you know, get it done. But what that doesn’t do is allow you to do the work and to look at what was underneath, like, whatever you did, even if it was a gaff or you said something wrong or whatever, there’s probably an iceberg underneath that, of behavior, of patterning, of just being blind to yourself that isn’t gonna just be solved overnight.” MEGA So amid his public silence, Franco said he’s “just been doing a lot of work” and is “pretty confident” he did the proper work this time around. The actor revealed he had gotten sober from his “substance abuse” but was still consistently cheating on the women he was dating. He said his sponsor explained to him that the infidelity was “dishonest” and therefore “not good” for his sobriety. That’s when he decided to be single and later realized he had an addiction to sex. “I was in recovery before, you know, for substance abuse. And there were some issues that I had to deal with that were also related to addiction,” he explained. “And so I’ve really used my recovery background to kind of start examining this and, and changing who I was.” Franco said he’s been in recovery for sex addiction, which he calls “a powerful drug,” since 2016. “I stayed sober from alcohol all that time. … And so in my head, it was like, ‘Oh, I’m sober. I’m living a spiritual life.’ Where on the side, I’m acting out now in all these other ways. And I couldn’t see it,” he said. He recalled his “happily married” sponsor telling him, “Look, the cheating is dishonest. I don’t think that’s good for your sobriety, but if you’re not dating someone and you wanna go and hook up, like whatever happens between two consenting adults is fine.” Franco said he “took that and I ran with it and used it as an excuse to just hook up all over the place.” He admitted to being “completely blind to power dynamics but also completely blind to people’s feelings. I didn’t wanna hurt people;” however, he noted that he “wasn’t really a one-night-stand guy.” “People that I got together with or dated, like I’d see them for a long time, years. It’s just that I couldn’t be present for any of them,” he said. “And the behavior spun out to a point where it was like I was hurting everybody.” Franco admitted that hearing Rogen say the pals/creative collaborators had no plans to work together was hurtful but also served as an awakening. “He was asked about me. And I just wanna say, I absolutely love Seth Rogen,” Franco said. “I love Seth Rogen. I worked with him for 20 years. We didn’t have one fight for 20 years. Not one fight. He was my absolute closest work friend, collaborator.” “We just gelled,” he went on, “and what he said is true, you know, we aren’t working together right now, and we don’t have any plans to work together.” “Of course it was hurtful, you know, in context, but I get it, you know, he had to answer for me ’cause I was silent,” the actor said. “He had to answer for me, and I don’t want that. And so that’s why it’s one of the main reasons I wanted to talk to you today is I just, I don’t want Seth or my brother or anyone to have to answer for me anymore.” MEGA View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @jazzjennings_/Instagram A true #Ally! After going on his first date with a trans woman during Tuesday’s episode of TLC’s hit series I Am Jazz, star Sander Jennings took to social media to spread some positivity. “Love is free, spread it everywhere ,” the reality star hottie captioned a snap of himself and sister Jazz Jennings via Instagram on Tuesday, December 21. The message of hope earned a shoutout from their other sibling Griffen Jennings, who wrote: “Spread love everywhere and everyday.” @sander_jennings/Instagram JAZZ JENNINGS FEELS ‘BROKEN’ AFTER MASSIVE WEIGHT GAIN AS SIBLINGS HOLD INTERVENTION TO STOP HER BINGE-EATING: ‘MY SPIRIT HAS BEEN SHATTERED’ Sander and his crush Hope enjoyed a beautiful ice skating date as the two bonded over their shared strengths and passions in the latest episode. Before the episode aired, the 23-year-old took to social media to candidly open up about his struggles with being attracted to trans women and how others would perceive that. “We all want to find love…,” he began a heartfelt message via Instagram on Monday, December 20. “For the past 5 years, I have been single. I’ve had some incredible experiences but have never been 100% sure that anyone was the one. Maybe that’s me expecting an impossible love story, or perhaps it’s just me knowing that patience will lead me to ‘my person.'” The TLC personality continued, “Through my dating trials and tribulations, I’ve learned a lot, and two things keep me hopeful: 1. I know I want to connect with someone emotionally, physically, spiritually, and in the right situation (timing is everything.) 2. That I must remain open-minded to love and never close the door on someone I see a potential connection with because of fear of what others might think.” “I will date whomever I want, always be honest about my feelings, and if there’s a potential spark, I will see where it goes with any woman,” the LGBTQ+ ally concluded. JAZZ JENNINGS STRUGGLES IN THE GYM AFTER 100 POUND WEIGHT GAIN AS HER FAMILY TRIES TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE: ‘THIS IS EMBARRASSING’ Sander has also been a major support system for his sister Jazz, who underwent her first gender confirmation surgery in June 2018, when she was only 17. Now at 21, the trans activist has been struggling with her weight after ballooning up to 234 pounds. @jazzjennings_/Instagram Sander has been nudging the YouTube personality to adopt a healthier lifestyle, even if it’s rubbing his little sis the wrong way. OK! reported Sander and siblings Ari and Griffen held a weight loss intervention to try and convince Jazz to be more healthy, although she couldn’t help but feel blindsided by the topic. “It does feel like I’m being put on the spot, having my siblings talk at me instead of to me,” Jazz — who has been honest about her struggles with binge-eating in the past — explained. “I know everyone wants to help out but it’s just such a personal struggle to break this cycle of negativity.” View the full article

Rebecca Juro via FacebookThe Juro’s career as a Trans advocate and LGBTQ+ writer/journalist spanned several publications over the past fifteen plus years. PHILADELPHIA – A powerful voice for the Trans community, writer and journalist Rebecca Juro died at the hospital on Saturday, December 17, suffering from complications caused by lung cancer. In a Facebook post on Sunday, her brother Steve Juro wrote, “Sad news…my sister Rebecca Juro passed away last night. She lived a tough, multi-faceted life that took her down a number of different paths.” The ‘T’ is not silent in LGBT was Rebecca Juro’s mantra and there aren’t likely better words for her life’s work. Juro continued in the tribute to his sibling writing; “She was a writer, a strong advocate for Trans issues, a companion for my mother, a punk rocker (Joan Jett groupie, see picture) and many other things. We weren’t that close and we often saw things differently, but we were family and loved and accepted each other. She would always fight for what she believed. She was battling lung cancer, thought she was beating it, but then it took her. We will miss her and she will always be remembered.” People think there was Sylvia Rivera and the next thing you know there was Laverne Cox, but it is not like that. So much has happened in the middle. –Rebecca Juro Juro’s career as a Trans advocate and LGBTQ+ writer/journalist spanned several publications over the past fifteen plus years including The Bilerico Report, The Advocate, Windy City Times, South Florida Gay News, and The Huffington Post among many others in the queer press. Juro was indefatigable in her advocacy for Trans people and she took no prisoners when it came to defining and defending the issues that mattered. Juro was known for her mantra of “the ‘T’ is not silent” which was illustrated by a remembrance post on Juro’s Facebook page by Marisa Richmond, a black transgender woman who teaches history and women’s studies as a professor at Middle Tennessee State University who wrote: “She was passionate and committed to trans rights, and did not take any bullshit from anyone who dismissed our identities. Juro, in a bio written for The Bilerico Project, listed that she had worked with and supported the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey. She also served as Co-Chair of the Trans and Allies Caucus of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association during 2004 and 2005. In his tribute on Juro’s Facebook page, Jerame Davis, a co-founder of The Bilerico Project and the current Executive Director of Pride At Work wrote; “I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Rebecca Juro. I’ve known Becky since the very beginning of Bilerico Project days – well over 15 years. She was fierce, loyal, and direct. My first tangle with Becky was over one of her headlines she had written on Bilerico that I had changed. The subject line of her email said, “My title is my fucking title” and we were off to the races. But we developed a long-time friendship and mutual respect. I’ll miss her snark and wit.” Others posting remembered her commitment and drive as an activist and writer on trans issues. Bil Browning, the editor of LGBTQ Nation and co-founder of The Bilerico Project noted; “The world lost a warrior today. I find myself with no words big enough to say about the woman who refused to shut up. While your voice may not be heard anymore, Rebecca Juro, thanks in part to your inspiration and determination, the T is not silent.” Sirius Radio host and writer/journalist Michelangelo Signorile commented, “Becky, was a force, so passionate and I loved laughing with her, arguing with her, and fighting hate with her. She will be missed.” Juro also hosted a podcast/radio show of her own covering Trans & Queer news, activism, commentary, music, and more. She was also very transparent in her struggles with life, thoughts of committing suicide, her being Trans, and other issues. Rebecca Juro and Dawn Ennis (Courtesy of Dawn Ennis)Journalist Dawn Ennis upon learning of the death of her friend wrote; ‘I am heartbroken to learn of your passing, my friend, my fellow long-suffering Mets fan, and the greatest fan of Joan Jett there ever was. You live on in your outstanding writing and in our hearts.” We live in a society where nobody wants to be different. But we are different and that is okay. It was a fight back then and it still is to this day, but things seem to be getting better... Rebecca Juro, in Al Dia…At least that is what I tell my little sister. She is 25 years old, openly self-identifies as part of the LGBTQ community and is a drag king. She explores gender in ways I didn’t even think were possible when I was her age. Juro sat down for an interview in Philadelphia, on June 2, 2016: “I got into journalism, being an activist, and doing this radio show because it was my way of saying, “Well, this is what I can do to help. This is how I can help.” I learned enough so that I didn’t feel like I was an idiot like I knew as much as anybody else did. Once I was able to do that, I got in at the point where there really weren’t many people. There weren’t many transgender journalists. Now we’re a dime a dozen. There are all these kids who are doing this stuff now, but those days? There was no such thing. Nobody knew transgender kids. It was all people my age. It was people in their thirties and forties, and it was all girls […]” In December of 2019 Juro published a first person reflective piece in Al Dia (Mission: “Documenting The Best of US Latino Experience.”) Among the quotable quotes and clever insights “Now fighting for non-binary to be widely recognized is her generation’s fight. I did my part, marching, rallying, writing. Now, as I become an elder, it is my time to sit back a little bit and give the stage to the younger generation while I keep working on my book, which recounts the social fights of my era, and who knows, maybe even going back as a regular staff position journalist.” My mother died at 76, my father died at 76. I am 57 years old now. I figure I don’t have that long left, but before I leave this world, I’d like to see real equality for people despite their gender identity. I want a better world for my sister, one where sexuality or gender will never be issued to her. I figure I don’t have that long left, but before I leave this world. I’d like to see real equality for people despite their gender identity. I want a better world for my sister, one where sexuality or gender will never be issued to her. Rebecca Juro in Al DiaJuro left a message for all on her Facebook page December 16th, just days before she passed away, saying “ Much of this post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Blade. Rebecca Juro Trans Journalist on Towleroad Stonewall UK Critic Joins Equality Commission; Quidditch Renaming After J.K. Rowling’s Transphobia; Chile Elects Pro-LGBTQ President More Darren Criss: I’m a season ticket holder to the queer experience More Ten key moments from Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex abuse trial More U.S. travelers stay closer to home as Omicron looms More Trump news conference to mark Capitol riot anniversary More U.S. cities try new way to help the poor: give them money More ‘Merry Christmas’: World’s first SMS sold for 107,000 euros More Biden to deliver free tests, military doctors to battle surging Omicron More Trump ally Republican congressman Perry declines interview with Capitol riot panel More George Michael’s pride at Princess Diana praise More Analysis: Omicron Clarifies Pandemic Will Not Be Deterred by Borders, Low Participation, Individual Choice; Capitalist Care More Load More View the full article

Akua ReindorfStonewall UK Critic Appointed to Nation’s Equality Board Judge and Stonewall UK critic Akua Reindorf is the latest name added to the U.K Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) thanks to prominent conservative leader Liz Truss. An employment judge, Reindorf is known for authoring a June 2021 report criticizing leading U.K. LGBTQ rights group Stonewall UK for its role in advising universities and other organizations on trans inclusion. Dubbed the Reindorf report, the University of Essex-commissioned review saw Reindorf criticize both Stonewall UK and the university after school officials disinvited two “gender critical” speakers amid outcry. Reindorf characterized Stonewall UK’s advice to the university reflected “the law as Stonewall would prefer it to be rather than the law as it is” despite the organization’s work lining up directly with the EHRC’s guidance on the 2010 Equality Act. Reindorf also described trans people using the bathroom aligned with their gender identity at the university as a “contested issue,” which university policy defines as a discriminatory act. The statement also cited Warner Bros. ownership of the trademark on the term “Quidditch” as a motivating factor in the leagues’ decision to rebrand the sport. “The sport needs its own space without limits on its growth potential and changing the name is crucial to achieving that,” said Benepe. The announcement comes as Rowling again became the subject of headlines for her transphobic rhetoric after deriding Scottish Police for cataloging rapists by their self-defined gender identity. “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penis-ed Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman,” Rowling tweeted earlier this month. “Our sport has developed a reputation as one of the most progressive sports in the world on gender equality and inclusivity, in part thanks to its gender maximum rule, which stipulates that a team may not have more than four players of the same gender on the field at a time,” the USQ and MLQ joint statement read. “Both organizations feel it is imperative to live up to this reputation in all aspects of their operations and believe this move is a step in that direction.” Stonewall UK: Previously on Towleroad Stonewall UK Critic Joins Equality Commission; Quidditch Renaming After J.K. Rowling’s Transphobia; Chile Elects Pro-LGBTQ President Brian Bell December 21, 2021 Read More Pulse Arsonist Arrested; 2021 Deadliest For Trans People in the US; Chinese LGBTQ Group Shuts Down; World Cup Homophobia: News Roundup Brian Bell November 10, 2021 Read More Texas Trans Ban Is Law; Isiah Brown Sues for $24 Million; Twitter Suspends And Liz Cheney Busts Rep Jim Banks For Different Violations Brian Bell October 26, 2021 Read More Biden Recognizes National Coming Out Day, Condemns Against Anti-LGBTQ Bills and Again Calls For Passing Equality Act Brian Bell October 11, 2021 Read More First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized Brian Bell September 1, 2021 Read More Virginia Transgender Man Sues Department of Corrections for Denial of Health Care; Top Surgery Denial Causing ‘Substantial Risk of Serious Harm’ Brian Bell August 27, 2021 Read More Photo courtesy of Government Equalities Office View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Darren Criss is “a season ticket holder to the queer experience”. The 34-year-old actor starred as Blaine Anderson on the hit TV series ‘Glee’, and although he left the show in 2015, fans continue to enthuse about his on-screen relationship with Kurt Hummel, played by Chris Colfer. Darren shared: “I have a lot of queer folks that come up to me, particularly older folks, that will say how much that relationship meant to them. “They’ll say, ‘When I was growing up, I didn’t really ever get to see that on TV’ … and then I always remind them, neither did I.” Darren explained that the on-screen romance means a lot to him, too. He told The Independent: “As a CIS straight man, I also didn’t see that. And while I have not grown up as a queer person, I’m a lifetime subscriber, man. I’m a season ticket holder to the queer experience. “I grew up in San Francisco in the 90s; these are people that raised my cultural awareness … [so] also it means a lot to me.” Despite this, Darren accepts that the issue of straight actors playing LGBT+ roles is extremely complex. The actor admits he simply doesn’t “know what to say” about the issue – although he always tries to remain “very fair and diplomatic”. Darren – who joined the show’s cast in 2010 – said: “This is a really tough one because, let’s just say, I’ve been s*** on. “No matter what I say, I’m going to get into the same mess that I’ve always gotten in, which is me being what I believe is very fair and diplomatic, but nobody’s interested in that, because compassion is not currently in vogue. So I don’t know what to say.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) – Jurors are weighing the fate of Ghislaine Maxwell after a three-week trial featuring testimony from women who said she recruited and groomed them for abuse by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein when they were teenagers. Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty. Her attorneys say prosecutors are using her as a scapegoat because Epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges, cannot be charged. Here are 10 key moments from the trial: – In her opening statement, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz called Maxwell a predator who manipulated girls and groomed them for abuse by Epstein, her employer and onetime boyfriend. Maxwell saw recruiting girls for Epstein to have sex with as a means to maintain a luxurious lifestyle, Pomerantz said. “They were exploiting kids,” Pomerantz said. “They were trafficking kids for sex.” – Maxwell defense lawyer Bobbi Sternheim began her opening statement by citing the biblical story of Adam and Eve to argue that Maxwell, like many women before her, was being blamed for a man’s bad behavior. Epstein killed himself in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell. “Epstein’s death left a gaping hole in the pursuit of justice for many of these women,” Sternheim said. “She’s filling that hole, and filling that empty chair.” – A woman known by the pseudonym Jane testified that Epstein first abused her in 1994, when Jane was just 14. Maxwell sometimes took part in sexual encounters with Jane and Epstein, and acted as if it were normal, Jane testified. “It made me feel confused because that did not feel normal to me,” she said. “I’d never seen anything like this or felt anything like this.” – Under cross-examination by Maxwell attorney Laura Menninger, Jane acknowledged she did not initially tell the FBI everything about Maxwell’s involvement. She said later under further questioning by prosecutors that she was not comfortable sharing all the details. “I was sitting in a room full of strangers and telling them the most shameful, deepest secrets that I’d been carrying around with me my whole life,” she said. – Prosecutors displayed for the jury a green massage table that was seized from Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida, estate in 2005. Three of the four accusers said they gave Epstein massages that escalated into sexual activity. Pomerantz called the word massage a “ruse designed to get young girls to touch Epstein.” – Prosecutors showed the jury images depicting Maxwell’s and Epstein’s intimate relationship during the 1990s. The never-before-seen digital photographs showed Maxwell kissing Epstein on the cheek or rubbing his bare foot. – A woman known by her first name, Carolyn, testified that Maxwell once touched Carolyn’s breasts and buttocks while Carolyn was nude and told her she had a “great body for Mr. Epstein and his friends.” “Money will not ever fix what that woman has done to me,” Carolyn said, sobbing on the stand. – Jeffrey Pagliuca, an attorney for Maxwell, asked Carolyn why she did not mention Maxwell in her initial discussions with law enforcement but implicated her later in a claim to a victim’s compensation fund run by Epstein’s estate. The questioning was part of Maxwell’s efforts to paint the accusers’ accounts as unreliable. “You know that if any information you submitted is false, you can be in criminal trouble?” Pagliuca said, referring to the fund. – Elizabeth Loftus, a prominent psychologist, testified for the defense that people can confidently recount events that did not happen. Her testimony was part of the defense’s effort to argue that the accusers’ memories had been manipulated over time. “When you have post-event suggestion or intervention, people get very confident about their wrong answers,” Loftus testified. – Minutes before the defense rested its case, Maxwell stood up, and with Sternheim’s arm around her lower back, told U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan that she was declining to testify in her own defense. “Your honor, the government has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and so there is no need for me to testify,” Maxwell said. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder) View the full article