20 Oct 2023

Trump fined $5,000 for violating gag order, as judge threatens jail for future violations

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NEW YORK — A state judge fined Donald Trump $5,000 Friday after finding that the former president’s campaign website continued to display a social media post attacking the judge’s law clerk in violation of a gag order imposed by the judge earlier this month.

Justice Arthur Engoron also indicated that he would consider jailing Trump for future violations of the gag order.

Engoron, who is overseeing a $250 million civil fraud trial against Trump and his business empire, issued the gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump used his Truth Social platform to attack Engoron’s principal law clerk. Trump quickly took down the post from Truth Social that day, but it remained on his campaign site until Thursday night.

Engoron wrote in a two-page order that while Trump’s lawyers had called the violation of the gag order “inadvertent,” “the effect of the post on its subject is unmitigated by how or why it remained on Donald Trump’s website for 17 days.”

“In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse,” Engoron wrote.

In stern terms, he warned Trump against further violating the order. “Make no mistake: future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of course, and possibly imprisoning him,” Engoron wrote.

The judge’s Oct. 3 gag order barred Trump from making comments about court staff after the former president’s Truth Social post, which included a picture of Engoron’s clerk, Allison Greenfield. The post claimed that Greenfield was “running this case” and was “Schumer’s girlfriend.” The post was also sent to Trump’s campaign email list.

Prior to issuing the gag order, the judge had ordered Trump “off the record” to remove the social media post, which he did. On Thursday night, however, the judge wrote, he learned that the post had remained on the website DonaldJTrump.com. It was removed Thursday night, the judge wrote, “but only in response to an email from this Court.”

Though the fine amounts to a nominal fee for Trump, it is the first formal punishment he has received for violating a gag order, which he is under not only in the civil fraud case but also in a federal criminal case in Washington, D.C.

There, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan barred Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors and court staff involved in the criminal case, saying that “his presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify … public servants who are simply doing their job.”

20 Oct 2023

Democrat Dean Phillips plans to launch a presidential bid in New Hampshire — maybe

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Plans for Dean Phillips to launch a presidential campaign on Oct. 27 in Concord, N.H., are underway, according to two people directly familiar with the event. But one source cautioned that Phillips could still opt not to do it.

Democratic consulting firm Fletcher Ridge, led by Bill Fletcher, obtained a permit for the State House Plaza from 8 a.m. to noon next Friday, according to a spokesperson for the Concord Department of Administrative Services. Fletcher, a Tennessee-based consultant, has been approached to work with Phillips, according to a source familiar with the campaign.

Such a move would be a dramatic leap into the national spotlight for the three-term congressman from Minnesota, who stepped down from his House leadership position over his 2024 flirtation, sparking tension within the caucus. Phillips has been vocal about his objections to the president, who he says would need to be “15-20 years younger” to earn a forceful endorsement.

Phillips has taken several steps toward solidifying a run of his own in recent weeks, including outreach to potential staffers and top New Hampshire Democrats. He’s also told fellow House members that he plans to launch a challenge to Biden.

Phillips and his spokesperson did not respond to immediate requests for comment.

But his potential run is already stirring anger and frustration among Democrats in Washington and New Hampshire, who argue that such a challenge unnecessarily weakens Biden as he turns to a difficult reelection battle.

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) and Phillips discussed his possible primary challenge, and Kuster shared her concerns with the lawmaker, according to sources familiar with the conversations.

Fellow members of his Minnesota delegation seemed resigned to the possibility.

“Dean’s going to do what he wants to do,” said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), who added that she told Phillips she was supporting Biden. “It’s a free country, and if that’s where his heart is and he wants to do it, then he should.”

An event next Friday coincides with the deadline to file for a presidential run in the state, but the deadline has already passed to compete in the primary in Nevada, another early nominating state.

Phillips’ decision comes at a particularly fraught moment for New Hampshire, which was stripped of its first-in-the-nation primary status by the Democratic National Committee. Last month, the DNC voted New Hampshire as “non-compliant” in its plans to move forward with an unsanctioned primary ahead of South Carolina, which was elevated to the first-place slot by the DNC last year.

That move, some New Hampshire Democrats acknowledge privately, could leave an opening for a primary challenger, like Phillips, to win the first presidential contest — even if it comes with no DNC delegates.

“New Hampshire voters are not going to cut off their nose to spite their face,” said Terry Shumaker, a former ambassador and veteran of multiple Democratic presidential campaigns in New Hampshire. “New Hampshire Democrats and Independents recognize that Biden has done a really good job.”

“Phillips can try [to exploit the calendar], but he should’ve started six months ago,” Shumaker added. “Frankly, I think it’s too late.”

Top Democrats in New Hampshire expect a write-in campaign to kick off on behalf of Biden, who is currently not expected to appear on the ballot.

Some Democrats who were staunch Biden supporters expressed exasperation at the idea that Biden has attracted so many challengers.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said he was “alarmed” by the Biden challengers and the possibility that a third-party spoiler could run in the general election.

“If they run in the general election, they’re going to do enormous damage to the likelihood that Biden can win, which means Trump wins,” he said. “I don’t understand those who feel the need to challenge a successful president.”

Others thought Biden would shrug off a possible Phillips’ launch just like he did with Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently left the Democratic Party.

“The more the merrier,” quipped Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a close Biden ally.

20 Oct 2023

Loons play to ‘leave everything out there’ with MLS playoffs on the line vs. Sporting KC

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When Sean McAuley took over for fired manager Adrian Heath on Oct. 6, the Loons’ new interim head coach’s first address to the players included a call back to 2015.

While Minnesota United was still playing in the lower-level North American Soccer League and dreaming of becoming an MLS expansion franchise, McAuley was an assistant coach with the Portland Timbers.

He saw a lot of similarities to then and now, and he wanted to use it as motivation for his new charges.

Eight years ago, the Timbers needed three straight wins, including one on Decision Day, to make the MLS Cup Playoffs. With a playoff berth, Portland produced five more results en route to lifting MLS Cup with a win over the Columbus Crew.

“Before you know it, you are on a roll and you never know where it can lead to,” McAuley recapped his message in a later interview with reporters.

MNUFC won its first game under McAuley, 5-2 over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 7. Now the Loons must beat Sporting Kansas City on Saturday and have at least one of three teams — Portland, Dallas and/or San Jose — to draw or lose in order for Minnesota to make the nine-team Western Conference field.

Current Loons Under-19 academy coach Fanendo Adi led the Timbers with 16 goals in 2015. Earlier this week, he pointed to a big moment, not unlike Heath’s exit, which helped galvanize the Timbers.

After a lopsided loss midseason, Timbers coach Caleb Porter and star midfielder Diego Valeri had a few-hour conservation on the field after a practice.

“They were just going after each other because Valeri wanted something to happen this way and Caleb was, ‘No, you have to do it this way,’ ” Adi recalled to the Pioneer Press. “During that playoff period, if you ask them what exactly happened, it’s very similar, it’s always one little spot that changes the whole dynamic of the approach toward the playoffs. Especially in MLS, teams pick up momentum and things can happen.”

Since McAuley has taken over, the Loons have increased the amount of video sessions in the week leading up to a match, and in the tactical details. During McAuley’s first session, he told the players about the need for more in-game possession.

McAuley also tinkered with the formation, including using one defensive midfielder instead of two, and trying to create more space around star playmaker Emanuel Reynoso, not just feeding him the ball and hoping he can dribble past opponents.

“We’ve got good pieces here and making sure in different situations we are aware of other decisions we could make on the field,” captain Michael Boxall said Friday. “I think there were sometimes where we just got kind of stuck doing the same thing over and over — to not the best avail.”

The Loons have lost all seven regular-season road matches in Kansas since joining MLS in 2017. Those defeats are by a combined score line of 22-2, including a 3-0 defeat in May.

MNUFC, however, did pull off a 3-0 road win over K.C. in the Western Conference semifinal in 2020. That’s what goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair wants to focus on.

“Just switching the narrative to the last time we were there in a must-win game, the playoff game, we performed well,” St. Clair said. “For us, it’s important to keep that narrative that we’ve gone there and we’ve gotten a result when it mattered most.”

McAuley said the Loons’ position — win or miss the playoffs — makes things easier for them. They don’t have to be mindful of how Portland, Dallas and San Jose are faring while they are playing their own match. Sporting is in the same spot as MNUFC, which will likely make things more chaotic come late Saturday night.

MNUFC will be ready to lay it all on the line. Boxall, Teemu Pukki, Bongi Hlongwane and Kervin Arriaga have returned from their respective international duties without issues and trained with the team both Thursday and Friday.

A season-high traveling contingent of at least 120 fans will be in Kansas to cheer them on.

“It’s tough when you travel halfway around the world to play these games,” said Boxall, who was in London playing for New Zealand earlier this week week. “If we don’t get the job done (Saturday), I’m going to have a lot of time to rest, so I’ll be fine. Got to leave everything out there.”

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20 Oct 2023

Revolution set to battle Philly on D-Day at Gillette Stadium

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Decision Day for the New England Revolution will be waged on two fronts with home field in round one of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference still undecided.

The Revolution (14-9-10) are in a must-win situation when they host the third-place Philadelphia Union (15-8-10) on Saturday night (6) at Gillette Stadium. A victory would also lock up a berth in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament.

The Revolution are in fifth place with 52 points, two behind the Columbus Crew and three behind the Union. Columbus (15-9-9) closes out the season at home against eighth-place Montreal (12-16-5), which is on the playoff bubble and has an incentive to win.

A New England win combined with a Columbus loss would leave the Revolution in fourth place with home field in the best of three Round One series.

If the Revolution beat Philadelphia by three goals, they would win the tiebreaker with the Union. If the Crew draw with Montreal, they would win the first tiebreaker (goal differential) with the Revolution.

The Revolution put themselves in this quandary by going 1-4-3 since Labor Day weekend under interim head coaches Richie Williams and Clint Peay. The Revolution have lost three straight one-goal games since beating Charlotte FC 2-1 on Sept. 30.

“Obviously, it is an important match for us as it relates to how we finish in the standings,” said Peay. “We want to make sure we can get the three points and secure the best position possible for the playoffs.

“If things really go our way, we can end up in third and get home field advantage. That is our objective and our focus going into the match.”

Philadelphia has as much riding on the outcome as the Revolution. Laying a three-goal beatdown on the Union will be a daunting endeavor even in the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium, where the Revolution are 11-1-4 this season. Complicating the matter is the weather. The game will be played in a raging coastal storm that should affect conditions on the pitch and attendance.

The Union and the Revolution have both scored 56 goals in 33 games, but Philly has allowed six fewer with a goal differential of plus 17. Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, who played collegiately at UConn, has logged 2,283 minutes with 12 wins, 70 saves, eight clean sheets and a 1.02 goals against average.

“I think first and foremost it has to be defensively,” said Peay. “We have to be sound defensively and we have to show that we can limit opportunities in transition, limit opportunities in transition and keep a clean sheet.

“You have to give yourself a chance to be able to win a game by not conceding a lousy goal. When putting a full game together on both sides of the ball we are hard to play against and we pose challenges for the opponent.”

The Revolution’s scoring over the last five games has been generated primarily by midfielder and team MVP Carles Gil and newcomer Tomas Chancalay, who has supplanted Giacomo Vrioni and Bobby Wood as the best striker option.

Gil is tied for third in MLS with 14 assists and he leads the club 11 goals. Since making his MLS debut on Aug. 26, Chancalay has scored 10 goals on 36 shots, with four tallies in the last five games.

“He has been a big spark for us with his aggressive play,” said Peay. “He can play with the ball and without the ball and obviously our biggest goal scorer in the last few games for us.”

Peay said untested keeper Jacob Jackson will start in net against the Union over veteran Earl Edwards Jr. Jackson made his MLS debut in a 3-2 loss at Nashville on Oct. 14 when

he held up under NSC’s relentless attack.

“We will continue with Jacob Jackson on the weekend,” said Peay. “I think he has done well for us and I think Jacob has earned the right to be back on the field.”