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Manhattan DA scrutinizing cash-only ice rink run by the son of Trump Org's CFO: report
March 03, 2021
It was revealed Monday that the Manhattan DA Cy Vance is asking a lot of questions about the Trump Organization's CFO Allen Weisselberg as part of his investigations into the company's finances.
Wednesday, the Washington Post had more details about the investigation, specifically that Vance's questions about Weisselberg also include questions about his two adult children.
<p>"One of Weisselberg's sons also works for the Trump Organization, where he manages the company's Central Park ice rinks. Another Weisselberg son works for a company that has extended loans to the Trump Organization," said the <em>Post</em>. </p><p><span></span>"Allen is in charge of everything," the Post cited a former Trump employee.</p><p>The Wollman Rink was a New York City government contract with the Trump Organization that ended in 2021 after it was canceled. It operates on a cash-only basis. </p><p>"In this case, prosecutors have scrutinized Weisselberg's work in helping to assess the value of Trump buildings as the company sought to obtain loans or property-tax reductions, people familiar with the investigation said," according to the <em>Post</em>. <br/>They have also asked about a Trump-owned luxury apartment where Weisselberg's son Barry lived for several years. The exact nature of Vance's interest in the apartment is not known, but if Barry Weisselberg, who manages Trump's ice skating rinks, got the apartment rent-free, that might be considered a fringe benefit of his job and subject to income tax."</p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/weisselberg-investigation-vance/2021/03/03/84a9f3d6-7c25-11eb-a976-c028a4215c78_story.html" target="_blank">Read the full report at the <em>Washington Post. </em></a></p>
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Wealthy Florida community got COVID vaccine before anyone else — then the governor got a $250,000 contribution
March 03, 2021
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may have scored big in the CPAC Straw Poll last weekend, but his citizens aren't likely to appreciate wealthy communities being able to jump the line for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that Florida's elderly are still struggling to sign up to get their first dose of the vaccine, but in a wealthy gated enclave in the Florida Keys, everyone was vaccinated in January.
<p>A Jan. 22 newsletter sent to the Herald revealed that the Ocean Reef Club in north Key Largo despite the rest of the state struggling to get the vaccine, "Over the course of the last two weeks, the Medical Center has vaccinated over 1,200 homeowners who qualify under the State of Florida's Governor's current Order for those individuals who are 65 years of age or older."</p><p><span></span>"We are fortunate to have received enough vaccines to ensure both the first and second for those vaccinated," the newsletter message continued. "At this time, however, the majority of the State has not received an allocation of first doses of vaccines for this week and beyond, and the timing of any subsequent deliveries remains unclear."</p><p>The <em>Herald</em> questioned whether the Republican donors who live in the area are behind the decision to give quick and easy access. </p><p>"In fact, the only people from Key Largo<strong> </strong>who gave to DeSantis' political committee live in Ocean Reef," said the report. "All 17 of them had given the governor contributions of $5,000 each through December 2020, according to the Florida Division of Elections.<br/></p><p>One donor, in particular, gave Gov. DeSantis an extra $250,000 after the area got their vaccines in mid-January. </p><p><a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article249666463.html" target="_blank">Read the full report at the <em>Miami Herald</em>. </a></p>
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Federal drug enforcement agent who joined crowd outside Capitol during riot suspended: report
March 03, 2021
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that a federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent who joined the crowd outside the Capitol during the violent invasion on January 6th has been suspended pending investigation — the first such probe into a federal officer.
"The agent, Mark Ibrahim, declined to comment other than to say in a phone interview that he 'never entered the building,' when the crowd breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, setting off violence that left five dead," reported Brad Heath. "One of Ibrahim's lawyers, Gretchen Gaspari, said DEA officials told Ibrahim that they were putting him on leave and suspending his security clearance 'because of his presence on Jan. 6.'"
<p>"A DEA spokeswoman declined to comment on Ibrahim's suspension. He has not been charged with a crime," continued the report. "Officials declined to say whether any other agents were present."</p><p>Several people with ties to the <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/25-domestic-terrorism-investigations-opened/" target="_blank">military</a> and <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/trump-rioters-2649961859/" target="_blank">law enforcement</a> were implicated in the Capitol invasion. In some cases, off-duty police officers who participated were turned in by fellow members of their departments.</p>
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