Andrey Desmond, 30, of New Britain, Connecticut was arrested and charged with assault and other offences after allegedly attacking State Representative Maryam Khan outside of a Muslim prayer service in Hartford on Wednesday. He allegedly made lewd comments, attempted to kiss her, and then struck her and threw her to the ground. At his arraignment on Thursday, Desmond was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bond and the Hartford Police Department released a statement saying that they are “committed to protecting all members of our community” and the incident is still under investigation.
News Mash
ESPN has announced a round of job cuts that includes some well-known on-air personalities, such as Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Keyshawn Johnson, and Jalen Rose. The cuts are part of ESPN's effort to identify cost savings and prevent further reductions to off-air staff due to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The layoffs of these personalities is a sign of the difficult times the network is facing.
President Joe Biden has announced a new pathway to student loan debt forgiveness following the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to strike down his original plan. The new plan will allow Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to "compromise, waive or release loans under certain circumstances," and Biden is urging Congress to pass legislation that would make two years of community college free for all Americans. He also vowed to continue pursuing debt forgiveness through a new path that is "legally sound" and will be grounded in the Higher Education Act.
Taylor Taranto, a 37-year-old man identified as a participant in the Jan. 6 insurrection, was arrested near former President Obama's home in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. He was arrested on an open warrant for an alleged assault at the Capitol and had two guns, 400 rounds of ammunition, and a machete in the van he appeared to be living in. A search of the van also revealed materials that could be used to create a Molotov cocktail. Taranto currently faces four misdemeanor counts in connection with Jan. 6 and the case is ongoing.
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 that a Colorado website designer has a free speech right to refuse to create websites for same-sex weddings. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a 38-page dissent, arguing that the ruling was "profoundly wrong" and would lead to more discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Civil rights groups have also criticized the ruling, which they argue will have a negative impact on the rights of LGBTQ people.
Abby Grossberg, a former Fox News producer, has settled two lawsuits against the network and television personality Tucker Carlson for $12 million. Grossberg claimed she was harassed, retaliated against, and set up to take the fall for a defamation suit against Fox. The settlement resolves claims against Fox News, its parent company, Carlson, and the network's attorneys. Fox News and Carlson have agreed to pay Grossberg $12 million in recognition of her courage and determination to stand up for herself.
This article discusses the ruling of Brazil's highest electoral court that former President Jair Bolsonaro has been rendered ineligible to run for office again due to his misuse of power during his 2018 presidential campaign. The ruling will forbid Bolsonaro from running until 2030, effectively ending his political ambitions and protecting the integrity of the vote.
Kevin Spacey is facing a London court on Friday as his trial on sexual assault charges begins. The prosecutor has described Spacey as a "sexual bully" and he has been charged with indecent and sexual assaults and an offense of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The trial is expected to last for seven days and will include testimony from the four alleged victims, with Spacey's legal team arguing that the accusations are false.