Elon Musk has been found not guilty of deceiving investors with tweets in 2018, after a jury in San Francisco deliberated for less than two hours. The verdict is seen as a major vindication for Musk, and a sign that the courts are willing to give tech executives some leeway when it comes to their public statements. The case is now closed, and Musk is free to continue leading Tesla and Twitter without the threat of legal action.
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The Memphis Police Department has fired Officer Preston Hemphill in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by officers last month. Hemphill was charged with violations of personal conduct, truthfulness, and rules regarding a Taser stun device. Five other officers were fired and criminally charged with second-degree murder and other counts. The incident sparked outrage in the community and calls for police reform, with the Memphis Police Department committing to making changes to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
The Memphis Police Department has fired one officer and suspended two first responders following the violent arrest and death of Tyre Nichols. An internal investigation has been launched, and the Shelby County District Attorney's Office is conducting a criminal investigation. The department has also implemented reforms to improve police accountability and transparency, and is committed to ensuring justice is served.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has reportedly begun to pressure former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to cooperate with their investigation into former President Donald Trump's hush money payments to an adult film star during his 2016 campaign. The investigation is part of a larger effort to investigate various aspects of Trump's life and business, and prosecutors have threatened Weisselberg with additional charges unless he cooperates. Former District Attorney Cyrus Vance had expressed confidence that his successor, Alvin Bragg, would agree with his assessment and see the case through.
A California jury has ruled in favor of Elon Musk, finding the Tesla CEO not liable for losses experienced by shareholders following his 2018 tweet about taking the electric car maker private. The jury found that Musk did not act with “actual malice” or with the intent to harm investors, resulting in him having to forfeit his position as Tesla’s executive chairman and pay millions of dollars in fines and legal fees. The verdict is a relief for Musk, who has been under intense scrutiny since the tweet was sent and could have had a major impact on the future of Tesla and his role as CEO.
The House Judiciary Committee has issued subpoenas to the Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Education as part of its investigation into the Biden administration's response to rising tensions and threats of violence surrounding school board meetings. The investigation is focused on whether the Justice Department strategy to address threats against teachers and school officials was abused to target conservative parents. This is the first set of subpoenas from the Judiciary's subcommittee dedicated to investigating the alleged weaponization of the federal government and could have far-reaching implications for the Biden administration.
Michigan State Police have confirmed that the bodies found in an abandoned apartment building in the Detroit area on Thursday are those of three missing aspiring rappers. Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police said human remains were found in the basement of the apartment complex in Highland Park and the family of one of the missing men, 21-year-old Demarco Bennett, was notified of the discovery. The cause of death is still under investigation and authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact them.
A mysterious Chinese surveillance balloon is hovering over the United States, prompting an international diplomatic crisis. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the balloon and is receiving regular updates from the National Security Team. The White House is monitoring and reviewing options, while Beijing insists it is a weather balloon that got blown off track.