By Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump asked a Georgia Appeals Court on Wednesday to end the criminal case against him in that state for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. Lawyers for Trump argued that his continued prosecution by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has also charged several of Trump's allies, would violate the U.S. Constitution as he prepares to return to the White House next month. They urged the appeals court to remove Trump from the proceedings and to order a lower court judge to dismiss the case against Trump in its entirety. A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal prosecutors have already dropped two criminal cases against Trump based on a Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Trump's sentencing on charges in New York involving hush money paid to a porn star was put on hold indefinitely following Trump's election victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump's lawyers renewed their attempts to dismiss that prosecution on Tuesday. In Georgia, Trump and 14 others face racketeering and other charges for allegedly forming a criminal conspiracy to reverse Trump's narrow defeat in the battleground state in the 2020 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has argued that the case, and others he has faced, were politically motivated attempts to damage his campaign. Related: Trump as president will not have the authority to end the Georgia case, but his lawyers argued that continuing to prosecute him would undermine his ability to govern. Trump and eight of his co-defendants have asked the appeals court to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case, arguing that a romantic relationship she had with a former deputy tainted the proceedings. The case has been paused since June because of the appeal. Oral arguments were scheduled for Thursday, but were postponed by the court last month without explanation. Trump's filing applies only to his case. The other co-defendants can continue to press their appeal if Trump is removed from the case. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Stephen Coates) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .
Two injured at worksite, opening of FHL Tower postponed
NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
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Stock market today: Wall Street slips at the end of a bumpy weekAlien: Romulus Xenomorph Hot Toys Figure Unveiled, Available for Preorder Now By Hot Toys is celebrating the release of the recent with a new sixth scale figure, which is available to preorder now on Sideshow Collectibles’ site. The newest figure comes modeled after the iconic Xenomorph as it appears in the 2024 film. The “Scorched Xenomorph” stands at about 44cm (17.3′′) tall and is painted black and dark gray with a glossy finish to match the way the creature is presented in the movie. The figure also features an all-new joint design, and a bendable tail to allow for different posing styles. How to get the Alien: Romulus Hot Toys figure? The figure is available to preorder now on , and retails for $305. The figure is expected to release sometime between October 2025-March 2026, so fans will have to wait a little bit before getting their hands on one. For those interested in purchasing, Sideshow does also offer payment plan options if the initial price is a bit too much. Sign-up today for access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ As is customary with Hot Toys figures, the figure also comes with two interchangeable carapaces, one of which features a translucent look at the Xenomorph’s skull. The figure also comes with a handful of different hands to swap in and out, an extendable inner jaw, an articulated facehugger accessory, and a diorama base with LED light-up functionality. Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash. Share article
