Tag: new york

House COVID-19 panel refers Andrew Cuomo for possible prosecution for lying to Congress: report

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Wednesday night sent a referral to the Justice Department for the possible prosecution of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the New York Times reported, over allegations that he lied to Congress.

Cuomo, who was governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, issued a mandate in 2020 that required nursing homes in the state to admit untested or possibly contagious patients. It resulted in the deaths of over 15,000 people. 

The panel reportedly accused Cuomo of participating in a “conscious, calculated effort” to avoid accountability for the thousands of nursing homes deaths that occurred from COVID-19, and of lying behind closed doors.

Cuomo had testified to the panel that he had not reviewed a State Health Department report about the nursing home deaths, but the New York Times reported that Cuomo did review it and helped write portions of an early draft of it.

The referral was signed by subcommittee chairman Brad Wenstrup, according to the outlet.

“Mr. Cuomo provided false statements to the select subcommittee in what appears to be a conscious, calculated effort to insulate himself from accountability,” Wenstrup wrote in the referral. “The Department of Justice should consider Mr. Cuomo’s prior allegedly wrongful conduct when evaluating whether to charge him for the false statements described.”

The former governor’s spokesman Richard Azzopardi defended Cuomo in a statement to the outlet and claimed he had testified that he did not remember having a role in the report.

“This taxpayer-funded farce is an illegal use of Congress’s investigative authority,” Azzopardi said. “The governor said he didn’t recall because he didn’t recall. The committee lied in their referral just as they have been lying to the public and the press.”

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NYC law used to shutter unlicensed weed bodegas is unconstitutional, judge rules

A Queens judge ruled Tuesday that the local law that let New York City rapidly shut down more than 1,000 businesses accused of selling cannabis without licenses is unconstitutional because it denies shop owners their rights to due process.

The decision calls the legality of the closures into question and has the potential to halt the city’s enforcement effort, known as Operation Padlock to Protect, which Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly hailed as a success.

Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the mayor, said Tuesday the city will appeal the ruling.

“Illegal smoke shops and their dangerous products endanger young New Yorkers and our quality of life, and we continue to padlock illicit storefronts and protect communities from the health and safety dangers posed by illegal operators,” she said.

The city updated its administrative code earlier this year to make it easier to shut down stores suspected of selling cannabis without licenses. But New York Supreme Court Justice Kevin Kerrigan has ruled that the portions of the city’s law that allow the sheriff to unilaterally decide whether to keep a store closed for up to a year are unconstitutional.

Under the law, the owner of a business that has been padlocked for allegedly selling cannabis without a license is entitled to a hearing with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, or OATH. After listening to the facts of the case, the hearing officer makes a recommendation as to whether the store should remain closed.

But the ultimate decision is up to the sheriff — and lawyers representing businesses that have been shut down say it’s not uncommon for the sheriff to ignore OATH’s recommendations.

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Managers Of New York Cannabis Social Equity Fund Earned $1.7 Million Despite Accusations Of Predatory Lending And Mission Failure

They haven’t come close to fulfilling Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) goal of helping 150 people victimized by the state’s old, racially biased drug laws enter the legal cannabis business—and some they have assisted fear their dispensary dreams are collapsing.

But the three managers of a public–private loan fund established to carry out the primary social mission of New York’s sweeping cannabis legalization program are doing just fine.

Records obtained by THE CITY show that they earned $1.7 million over the most recently tallied 12-month period and stand to make millions more in years to come, even though the New York Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund has faced charges of predatory lending, secrecy and mission failure. By a conservative estimate computed by THE CITY, the managers’ longterm haul could easily come to $15 million over a decade.

The state selected the three managers, who operate under the almost identical name of Social Equity Impact Ventures, after a bidding process in June 2022: Bill Thompson, a former New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate; the former NBA star Chris Webber; and Lavetta Willis, a former sneaker entrepreneur based in Los Angeles.

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Iran Revolutionary Guard charged by US in alleged plot to kill Iranian dissident living in NYC

An Iran Revolutionary Guard official was charged by the US government over a plot to kill an Iranian American journalist and Iranian opposition activist who is living in NYC, according to an indictment which was rewritten and filed on Tuesday.

Masih Alinejad, the Iranian dissident whose identity was confirmed to the Associate Press, was targeted to be killed by Ruhollah Bazghandi and three other men who were added to the indictment against others also accused of trying to kill Alinejad. The author fled Iran after the disputed 2009 presidential election and has been living in exile in the United States while continuing to be a vocal human rights activist against the Iranian regime.

Bazghandi, who has not been detained in custody, has been described in court papers as a brigadier general of the Revolutionary Guard who previously served as chief of the counterintelligence department. In April 2023, the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the US Department of Treasury identified Bazghandi as being involved in assassination plots against journalists, Israeli, citizens, and others deemed as enemies of Iran, per the AP. The indictment also said he participated in the in the “detention of foreign prisoners held in Iran and involvement in operations in Syria by the Revolutionary Guard’s counterintelligence department.”

This comes after the Iran Revolutionary Guard was designated by the US as a global terrorist organization as a supporting wing if Iran’s international terrorism.

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New York high schoolers to stage WALKOUTS in protest of ballot measure that will allow trans athletes to participate in girls’ sports

High school students across New York are planning to walk out of their classrooms on Oct. 24 in protest of a ballot measure that would allow transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sporting events.

New York’s Proposal 1, also known as the “Equal Rights Amendment,” would add language to the New York Bill of Rights to provide that people can’t be denied rights based on their “ethnicity, national origin, age and disability” as well as due to their “sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”

Campaigners in favor of Proposal 1 are marketing the ballot measure as a pro-abortion measure that would enshrine abortion rights into state law. However, the Coalition to Protect Kids, the main organization that has organized the statewide walkouts, argue that Proposal 1 would not only protect abortion rights but also mandate extreme “trans rights” in New York, including the participation of transgender athletes in girls sports.

The statewide demonstration, dubbed “Walk Off for Fairness Day,” is organized by the Coalition to Protect Kids with support from the Catholic Church, the New York Republican State Committee and the Conservative Party of New York State. (Related: World Athletics bans transgender athletes from competing in female category at international events.)

“Girls are being systematically canceled in this state, and ‘Walk Off for Fairness Day’ will give them a safe opportunity to make their voices heard,” said Coalition spokeswoman Ayesha Kreutz. “So many of these young women are afraid of speaking out, so they’re forced to watch as 50 years of female athletic progress gets washed away by destructive ideologues. Girls are not second-class citizens, so why are they being treated that way?”

Many high school students across New York have spoken out in support of the walkout.

“It’s not right for boys to compete against girls in sports. It’s a huge disadvantage for girls,” said Hannah Pompeo, a 16-year soccer player at Eden High School near Buffalo.

Similarly, Millie McCormack, a dancer from Somers High School, stated that she and her sister would join the protest because they believe transgender athletes threaten the fairness of girls’ sports. “I don’t think it’s right for men to be in our safe spaces. We worked hard for places on our teams. Boys have physical advantages we don’t have.”

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NYC seeks 14,000 hotel rooms for migrants through 2025 – with each one costing $352 PER NIGHT

Beleaguered New York Mayor Eric Adams has been told to get a grip as the bill for housing the city’s migrants soars towards $2.3 billion.

City Hall is warning that 14,000 hotel rooms will be needed until at least the end of next year when the total cost of providing for the new arrivals will reach a staggering $5.76 billion.

More than 200,000 migrants have arrived in the city since the start of 2022, many bussed north by GOP governors determined to make Democrat cities share the burden of the crisis on the southern border.

And more than 150 hotels are still being used to house the influx at an average cost of $352 a room each night.

‘The taxpayers can’t pay for this indefinitely,’ Nicole Gelinas of the Manhattan Institute think tank told the NY Post. ‘We should stop using hotels as shelters by the end of the year.’

The figures emerged as the City began looking for a contractor to ensure it secured the thousands of rooms needed going forward.

‘The New York City Department of Homeless Services is seeking to continue the City Sanctuary Facility program by procuring a vendor who can assist in acquiring the use of large scale commercial hotels and hotel management services to help address the current emergency,’ the agency announced.

It came after City Comptroller Brad Lander revealed that one contractor, DocGo Inc, had billed the city $1.7 million for 9,874 vacant hotel rooms it had claimed were housing migrants during May and June last year.

The New York City Hotel Association is currently paid $100,000 a month to manage three migrant housing contracts and said it would apply for the new one.

‘We have five full time employees specifically for fulfilling the contractual obligations, besides work done by regular HANYC staff for the contract, in addition to their normal duties,’ said CEO, Vijay Dandapani.

‘We will be filling in the request.’

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Illegals Also Pouring Over The Northern Border–Including NY

Border Czar Kamala Harris has another headache: illegal aliens are sneaking across the northern border with Canada in sizable numbers. The mainstream media ran cover for years on the southern border, which has only recently come into focus on network news channels.

But the northern border has been a blind spot. The dense woods separating Canada from New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine provide excellent cover for illegal interlopers. While far less trafficked than the southern border, penetration in the north has increased by several magnitudes.

The area in question is comprised of three Border Patrol Sectors, named Buffalo, Swanton, and Houlton, respectively, from west to east. Six border stations patrol Buffalo sector, eight in Swanton, and six in Houlton.

The New York-through-Maine border is 1,204 miles long. Broken down by state, Canada’s border is separated from New York by 445 miles, Vermont and New Hampshire, 148, and Maine, 611 miles.

In Swanton sector alone–a mere 295 miles of that 1,204–over 19,000 illegals have crossed during the 2024 fiscal year.

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A War Criminal Comes to New York

The war criminal leader of a dangerous rogue state is coming to speak to the UN General Assembly this week. The AP reports:

But Netanyahu arrives at the United Nations this week at a time when his own diplomatic capital and legitimacy, as well as that of the country he represents, are at a low. Critics say that aside from a moment in the spotlight, it’s not clear what Netanyahu will achieve with the visit.

“He is a great believer in speechmaking,” said Tal Schneider, an Israeli political commentator. “He thinks that if he delivers a speech in English, he can convince people in the justness of his ways,” she said, adding that that demonstrated he was “disconnected from reality.”

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NYC Mayor Eric Adams Fires Back, Claims He’s Being Targeted by Biden’s Federal Government for Allegedly ‘Defending’ New Yorkers Against Illegal Aliens

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges.

The indictment, which is expected to be unsealed today, Thursday, marks the culmination of a months-long investigation into the mayor’s alleged involvement in a web of corruption and illegal foreign donations, potentially implicating powerful interests spanning across six foreign nations.

While the details of the charges remain under wraps for now, sources close to the investigation revealed that Adams is suspected of accepting illegal contributions from foreign countries, including Turkey, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.

The allegations have already triggered a crisis within the mayor’s administration, leading to the raids, resignations of several top officials, and a barrage of subpoenas.

Here is a timeline of events in the federal investigation into Mayor Eric Adams and his inner circle via ABC 7 NY:

    • November 2, 2023 – The FBI launches a major investigation into Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign, starting with a search of key figures’ homes. Federal agents search the Brooklyn residence of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for Adams, and the New Jersey home of Rana Abbasova, the mayor’s international affairs aide. That same day, Adams flies to Washington, D.C., only to abruptly return to New York, canceling meetings scheduled with the White House.
    • November 6, 2023 – Mayor Adams faces direct scrutiny as the FBI seizes his personal electronic devices, including his iPad and cell phone. Sources indicate that investigators are looking into whether Adams’ campaign received illegal foreign donations from Turkey.
    • February 29, 2024 – The FBI continues its investigation, this time focusing on Winnie Greco, Adams’ Director of Asian Affairs. Federal agents search her Bronx home as part of the ongoing probe.
    • April 5, 2024 – The FBI is investigating whether Mayor Adams received free upgrades on Turkish Airlines flights during his 2021 mayoral campaign,
    • July 2024 – The federal investigation heats up, with grand jury subpoenas issued to Adams in what sources describe as a corruption probe. Prosecutors are reportedly looking into whether the mayor’s campaign pressured the fire department to expedite inspections of the new Turkish consulate in exchange for donations from Turkey.
    • September 4, 2024 – The investigation reaches Adams’ inner circle. FBI agents search the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and her fiancé, Schools Chancellor David Banks, who had his phones seized. They also search the Queens home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, along with business consultant Terence Banks, confiscating various electronic devices.
    • September 5, 2024 – Four high-ranking NYPD officials, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and his twin brother James Caban, are subpoenaed by federal investigators. Tim Pearson, a close advisor to Mayor Adams, also has his phone seized.
    • September 12, 2024 – Commissioner Caban resigns, citing the ongoing investigations as a “distraction” to the city’s work. His departure signals further fallout from the expanding probe.
    • September 14, 2024 – Lisa Zornberg, Chief Counsel at City Hall, resigns after advising Mayor Adams on legal strategy for over a year. In a brief letter, Zornberg states she can no longer serve effectively in her role, raising questions about the legal stability surrounding the Adams administration.
    • September 16, 2024 – The FBI arrests two retired FDNY chiefs, Brian Cordasco and Anthony Saccavino, as part of a year-long corruption investigation connected to the probe into Mayor Adams’ administration.
    • September 20, 2024 – Federal prosecutors issue a subpoena to Molly Schaeffer, the director overseeing New York City’s Office for Asylum Seekers, further expanding the scope of the investigation into City Hall operations.
    • September 21, 2024 – Federal agents search the home of Interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon. Though Donlon claims the search is unrelated to the police department, its timing raises eyebrows.
    • September 23, 2024 – New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan announces his resignation, effective by January 2025. Vasan insists his decision is to spend more time with family and denies any connection to the federal investigation.
    • September 24, 2024 – Another major figure steps down as New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks announces his retirement, adding to the growing list of high-level resignations amid the ongoing probe.
    • September 24, 2024 – The FBI expanded its investigation into possible illegal foreign donations, focusing on Adams’ suspicious connections with at least six foreign countries, including Turkey, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
    • September 25, 2024 – Mayor Eric Adams is indicted by a grand jury in the federal corruption investigation, marking a pivotal moment in the probe that has rocked his administration.

This comes after Adams has slammed Biden’s border policy indirectly by claiming that the migrant crisis is ‘destroying’ the city.

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NYC Mayor Eric Adams Has Been Indicted on Federal Criminal Charges

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal criminal charges, The New York Times reported Wednesday night. The indictment is still sealed, so the nature of the charges are unclear. Adams is the first New York mayor to be indicted while in office.

Prior to the indictment, Adams and his administration were caught in a tangled web of federal investigations involving subpoenas, raids, and turmoil within city hall. 

Adams addressed the indictment in a statement to CBS New York. “I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became,” he said. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”

Earlier this month, the FBI raided the homes of several top Adams administration officials including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor Philip Banks, City Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban, and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Authorities also seized electronic devices belonging to Adams’ adviser Timothy Pearson, and issued a slew of subpoenas to other members of his administration.

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